It has remained a secret for 30 years - an Israeli 'tank' which is actually a mobile missile launcher.

Now, new pictures show the weapon, called the Pereh, is real, leading to it finally being declassified by military bosses.

The Pereh is based on the M60 Patton main battle tank chassis and carries the Spike anti-tank guided missile.

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The Pereh in plain sight: The front of the vehicle is fitted with a fake cannon so it looks like a standard main battle tank, with 12 Spike anti-tank missiles hidden at its rear.

THE SPIKE MISSILE Spike is an Israeli fourth generation 'fire-and-forget' anti-tank guided missile and anti-personnel missile. As well as engaging and destroying targets within the line-of-sight of the launcher, Spike provides the gunner with the ability to attack targets at stand-off range with no line of sight. The Spike weapon system can be operated in either direct attack mode or mid-course navigation mode based on target coordinates. These modes enable the defeat of long-range hidden targets with pinpoint precision, damage assessment and the obtaining of real-time intelligence. Advertisement

'It is now permitted to publish that Israeli is operating a special weapons system that has been kept secret for some 30 years: the Pereh tank,' said Israel Defence.

'The tank has been uniquely and deceptively retrofitted to launch Tamuz anti-tank missiles.'

The Pereh uses the chassis of the Magach series main battle tank (MBT) which is an upgraded variant of the American-made M48 and M60 MBTs.

The original turret has been enlarged to install a launcher under armour for 12 missiles.

'Israel Military Industries attached to the tank a rising launcher and observation system for the Tamuz,' the report claims.

'The launcher and the raised tower contain an aiming system that folds into the armored turret.

A fake cannon is attacked to the tank so that it appears to be an ordinary tank.

'The loading of the launcher occurs when it is folded inside the turret, via a large hatch on the back side of the turret.'

The Pereh can be easily identified by a curved antenna mounted at the rear on the roof of the turret which is erected in firing position.

The front part of the turret and the hull are fitted with add-on armour to increase protection against anti-tank missile.

More stowage boxes are fitted to each side of the turret.

The first pictures of the Pereh were released on Internet during the Israeli military operation Protective Edge in July 2014, although it was never confirmed by the IDF.

The weapon is said to have been active in nearly every major conflict that Israel has been a part of over the last two and a half decades.

The front of the vehicle is fitted with a fake cannon to be identify as standard main battle tank. In use, the top turret is raised (shown) to target missiles.

The missiles can clearly be seen at the rear of the tank, which has been in use for 30 years in different forms.

In areas such as around the border with Lebanon, the Perehs could sit on hills, taking out targets and providing fire support from miles away

It fires missiles known as 'Spike'.

Spike is an Israeli fourth generation 'fire-and-forget' anti-tank guided missile and anti-personnel missile.

As well as engaging and destroying targets within the line-of-sight of the launcher, Spike provides the gunner with the ability to attack targets at stand-off range with no line of sight.

The Spike weapon system can be operated in either direct attack mode or mid-course navigation mode based on target coordinates.

Recently and officially revealed IDF's Magach-based (M60 Patton) missile platform called 'Pereh' that had been kept… pic.twitter.com/rwdNXJgazW — Army Complex (@ArmyComplex) July 17, 2015

These modes enable the defeat of long-range hidden targets with pinpoint precision, damage assessment and the obtaining of real-time intelligence.

Up until two years ago, the Pereh was classified equipment kept under almost absolute secrecy and deception.

According to reports in the “Fresh” forum, the only photograph of the Pereh was taken from its rear side and was leaked to the web during the second Lebanon war in 2006, but it received scant attention and it is very difficult to find a copy of the photo.

Two years ago, two Pereh tanks were photographed on the Golan Heights along the Syrian border.

Every time a photograph of the tank was published on an Israeli media outlet it vanished at the orders of the Israel Defense Forces censor, due to the classified nature of the equipment.