Israel shows off bizarre tank amid heightened tensions.

According to information released by the IDF, this specially designed tank is known as the Spike-Magach Missile Tank.

This tank series has this unique name because the Spike-Magach retains the offensive role of a tank, but also integrates the Spike NLOS missile system at the rear of the turret.

The Spike-Magach will likely be the world's first missile tank, developed by Israel based on an improved chassis of the older American M48A5 tank, combined with Spike NLOS missile launchers mounted at the rear of the turret.

Observations indicate that the latest Magach missile tanks have been deployed by the IDF to the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, each equipped with 12 Rafael Tamuz tactical missile launchers (also known as Spike NLOS).

When it's necessary to fire missiles, the Spike-Magach tank will rotate the rear of the turret towards the target, open the missile launcher compartment hatch, and fire – similar to the firing of Grad multiple rocket launcher systems.

After firing the missiles, the internal launchers are protected by retracting into the turret and closing the armored hatches. The first images of the Spike-Magach missile tank appeared in the spring of 2013, when the IDF was deployed near the Syrian border, but at that time, details of the integrated missile launchers on the vehicle were not visible.

Based on the new images, military experts believe that the IDF has converted a small number of Magach tanks into the Spike-Magach version, which can launch missiles.

Another interesting feature is that the turret layout of the Spike-Magach tank has also been improved by Israel to look very similar to their native Merkava tank. Equipped with 12 Spike-NLOS rocket launchers, the new Magach tank can engage targets from a distance of up to 25km.

Dan Nguyen