The idea of Pereh was conceived during the Yom Kippur War (1973), when Israel faced the threat of being overwhelmed by Egypt’s powerful tank-armor.
Dominated by its military doctrine and practical environment, Israel is famous for its unusual military equipment models, of which the Pereh anti-tank missile system is one of them. According to wikipedia, Pereh is classified as a Tank destroyer, which has been in service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since the 1980s with the Spike-NLOS missile. The system was not disclosed to the public until 2011, and it was only in 2015 that the country’s military authorities officially acknowledged its existence.
The idea of Pereh was conceived during the Yom Kippur War (1973), when Israel faced the threat of being overwhelmed by Egypt’s powerful tank-armor. The Pereh is based on the hull of the Magach 5 tank and features an enlarged turret containing 12 Spike missiles in a pop-up missile launcher at the rear disguised as a turret bustle. The launcher is reloaded via a hatch at the rear with the launcher in the lowered position.
Known as the Tamuz in Israeli service, the Spike-NLOS missile is capable of being used in both fire and forget and man-in-the-loop modes, either in the direct or indirect fire roles, and is able to destroy targets out to 25 km (16 mi). The front is fitted with a fake cannon to disguise it as a standard tank, but when deployed it can be identified by a curved antenna mounted at the rear on the roof of the turret, which is erected in the firing position. Other additional features include add-on frontal armor and storage boxes on the turret sides.
The Pereh had participated in all Israeli Defense Force operations of the last 25 years including the 2006 Lebanon War and Gaza War. Although pictures of the Pereh have been taken over the years, with some appearing in public briefly, Israeli censors have been diligent in suppressing such appearances. Pictures of the Pereh first released during Operation Protective Edge in July 2014, was the first occasion on which the censors allowed such pictures to pass without suppression, though no statement was made as to what the pictures were of.
This anti-tank missile carrier was deliberately made to resemble a typical Israeli main battle tank in order to conceal its true role. It improves survivability on the battlefield, as such vehicle would immediately become a priority target for enemy forces. Also its resemblance to a typical main battle tank allowed Israeli Defense Forces to keep this vehicle in high secrecy for nearly 30 years.
The Pereh was retired from service in 2017, although it is unclear whether the Israeli Defense Force intends to abandon the concept, or if they plan using a more modern tank chassis in an updated version.
