Israel is considering purchasing additional batteries of the Patriot missile defense system from the US amid growing concerns that Syria could launch a massive ballistic missile strike on the Jewish state in the event of war.

US defense contractor Lockheed Martin has offered to sell the latest version of the Patriot, the PAC-3, to Israel for the relatively low price of $50 million per battery, reported The Jerusalem Post.

The PAC-3 is capable of intercepting every missile in the Syrian arsenal.

Israel's own Arrow missile defense system has had great success in a series of trials, but is geared more toward downing long-range missiles of the type possessed by Iran.

Israel's defense establishment is scheduled to decide on the Patriot purchase by next week.