| G-4 Super Galeb | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Serbian Air Force G-4 Super Galeb | |
| General information | |
| Type | Militarytrainer aircraft |
| National origin | Yugoslavia |
| Manufacturer | SOKO |
| Designer | |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Serbian Air Force |
| Number built | 85[1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1984–1991 |
| Introduction date | 1983 |
| First flight | 17 July 1978 |
TheSoko G-4 Super Galeb (fromSerbian:галеб,lit. 'seagull'), also referred to asN-62, is aYugoslav single-engine, advancedjet trainer and lightground-attack aircraft designed by theAeronautical Technical Institute atŽarkovo and manufactured by theSOKO aircraft factory inMostar.
The Super Galeb was developed during the 1970s as a successor to, and replacement of, theSoko G-2 Galeb then in service with theYugoslav Air Force (Serbian:Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana – RV i PVO;Croatian:Ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana – RZ i PZO). On 17 July 1978, themaiden flight was performed by a development aircraft, designatedG-4 PPP; during 1983, the firstG-4 made its first flight. Quantity production of the type commenced in 1984; the assembly line operated up until thebreakup of Yugoslavia in 1991. A total of 85 aircraft were built, most of which went into service with the Yugoslav Air Force, although six G-4s were exported toMyanmar.
During theYugoslav Wars, RV i PVO G-4s carried out ground-attack sorties, a total of four were recorded as having been lost to enemy air defences. During 1992, the remaining aircraft were relocated to Serbia and Montenegro where they entered service with the Air Force of the newly formedFR Yugoslavia. A single G-4 was left over for theRepublika Srpska Air Force. TheSerbian Air Force has become the largest operator of the type, having acquired further Super Galebs from other ex-Yugoslavian republics. It intends to upgrade and operate its G-4s through to the 2030s.
The G-4 Super Galeb was developed during the 1970s as a replacement forYugoslav Air Force's existing fleet of theG-2 Galeb, a straight-wingedjet trainer aircraft that had been developed during the late 1950s. Prior to 1999, the Galeb was the most commonly used trainer operated by the Yugoslav Air Force. According to aviation periodicalFlight International, the Super Galeb showed unmistakable lineage from the earlier G-2, sharing the sameBritish-sourcedRolls-Royce Viperturbojet engine, albeit uprated for greater performance.[2] However, aviation historian Christopher Chant notes that: "the Super Galeb bears no more relation to the G-2 Galeb than an identity of role, being an altogether more advanced aircraft.[3]
The first of two prototypes had been reportedly completed by early 1978. Following completion of the initial ground testing phase, the Super Galeb'smaiden flight was conducted on 17 July 1978. It was followed by the first flight of one of the six pre-production aircraft on 17 December 1980. These pre-production aircraft, along with the first prototype, were designatedG-4 PPP; they possessed fixedtailplanes with insetelevators and noanhedral.[4] Unlike the G-2 Galeb, both thewing andtail surfaces areswept on the Super Galeb, while avionics to enable flight even under adverse weather conditions and at night have been integrated.[2]
In contrast to the development aircraft, production Super Galebs, along with the second prototype, were designatedG-4; in terms of design, they differed by featured an all-moving anhedral tailplane as well as being equipped with comprehensive avionics improvements.[4] Production aircraft use a gravity-based refuelling system, while the earlier development aircraft had been furnished with a pressurised refuelling system; this was slightly slower to refuel but was both simpler and cheaper.[2] In addition to its training mission, the G-4 was also suited for light attack operations.[2]
During 1983, the G-4 made its first flight, by which point it had been ordered in large numbers for the Yugoslav Air Force. Beyond the domestic market, it also competed internationally against jet trainers such as theItalianAermacchi MB-339, theCzechoslovakianAero L-39 Albatros, and theSpanishCASA C-101; Flight International observes that, while the G-4 offered less performance than theFranco-GermanDassault/Dornier Alpha Jet, it was substantially cheaper to procure.[2]
The SOKO G-4 Super Galeb is a jet trainer and light attack aircraft.[2] Its size allows the type to be applied to both basic and advanced flight syllabuses. Aesthetically, the Super Galeb resembles theHawker Siddeley Hawk, a contemporary British jet trainer.[2] In terms of the G-4's basic configuration, it is a low wingmonoplane design with slightlytapered wings.[4] The aircraft is 12.25 metres (40.2 ft) long and 4.3 metres (14 ft) high, with a wingspan of 9.88 metres (32.4 ft).[4] It weighs 3,250 kilograms (7,170 lb) when empty and can carry 1,882 kilograms (4,149 lb) of fuel.[4] The aircraft is fitted with a short nose cone, rounded fuselage, conventionalempennage, semi-circular air intakes, verticaltailfin,rudder,ailerons,horizontal stabilisers and fuel tanks at the square tips.[4]
The two crew, typically student and instructor, are seated in atandem configuration under individual side-opening canopies.[2] Both positions are provided withMartin-Baker-sourcedejection seats; the rear seat is slightly elevated to render better all-round visibility and aid in the supervision of a student pilot sitting in the front. The crew are provided with avionics that enable poor-weather flying; the forward position is provided with aradio altimeter andgyro-gunsight.[2] For combat missions, the Super Galeb can be outfitted with a centreline-mountedgun pod containing a twin-barrel23mmGryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L cannon with up to 200 rounds. In addition, fourhard points are installed beneath the wings, the inboard pair having a 770-pound (350 kg) capacity while the outboard have a 550-pound (250 kg) capacity; these can carry a variety of Western and Eastern European armaments and equipment; the inboard pylons are plumbed for 70 gallon external fuel tanks, a locally developedreconnaissance pod was also under development at one stage.[2]
The G-4 is powered by a singleBritish-sourcesRolls-Royce Viperturbojet engine.[2] Since its introduction, the aircraft's performance has been considerably improved by the adoption of the more powerfulRolls-Royce Viper 632-46 engine.[4] For further performance, attachment points forjet-assisted take-off (JATO)rockets are present underneath the fuselage.[2] To shorten landing distances, adrogue parachute can be deployed. Direct access to the engine is achieved via the removal of the rear fuselage forward of the fin.[2]
During the early 1990s, Yugoslavia embarked upon an upgrade programme for its G-4 fleet. Reportedly, this programme primarily revolved around the integration of newair-to-air andair-to-ground missiles, as well as an improved aiming capability, adjustments to raise engine reliability, and enhanced electronics.[5]
The G-4 Super Galeb performed numerous combat missions during theYugoslav Wars. In total, three G-4s were reportedly shot down, all pilots of which ejecting safely.[citation needed] As a result of the Yugoslav Wars, the nation of Yugoslavia broke up into multiple smaller nations; several of which possessed aircraft from the former republic's inventory.[6]
During theNATO bombing of Yugoslavia, seven G-4s of theLeteće zvezde aerobatics team were destroyed atGolubovci Air Base, heavily contributing to the team disbanding during 1999. Since then, a group of Serbian aviation enthusiasts have assembled a new display team, but have equipped it with olderSoko G-2 Galebs that had been previously withdrawn during the 1980s.[7]
Since 2008, theSerbian Air Force, the largest operator of the type, has proposed a comprehensive upgrade of their remaining G-4Ms. Intended to be re-designatedG4-MD, the envisioned upgrade programme, which largely revolves around new avionics for improved navigation, greater ease of control, and integrate new combat systems, is reportedly set to extend the type's service life through to the 2030s.[8] Serbia has been able to acquire additional G-4s from other former Yugoslavian republics, often bybartering, to expand its operational fleet.[9][10]
Serbia:Serbian Air Force operates four G-4M aircraft as of 2025
Myanmar:Air Force operates three G-4 aircraft as of 2022[12]
Bosnia and Herzegovina:Air Force inherited 1 G-4 aircraft from Republika Srpska.[13] At one point, Bosnia was considering its sale to neighbouring Serbia.[14]
Montenegro:Air Force inherited 17 aircraft. Four of these were used, but have subsequently been put up for sale. By 2012, six aircraft were transferred to Serbia whilst seven were reportedly sold to a private operator.[15][9]
Yugoslavia:Air Force operated 77 G-4 aircraft.[citation needed]Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94,[17]A Compendium of Armaments and Military Hardware[18]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
Standard communication and navigation equipment, plus (fire control and weapons management)Ferranti ISIS D-282 gyro sight, and (defensive sensors and systems) Iskra SD-1 RWR; there is also provision for areconnaissance pod with cameras and aninfrared line scanner.
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
