Air Weapons

Light Attack (1983)

SOKO

G-4 Super Galeb

Although sharing the same same, the SOKO G-4 Super Galeb is a completely new redesign of the earlier G-2 (Yugoslavia's first indigenous jet aircraft) with significantly improved combat capabilities despite the fact it is also a trainer aircraft. It retains its predecessor's low-wing monoplane design but features prominently swept wings and a redesigned forward fuselage which looks considerably stubbier than that of the G-2 and somewhat resembles the British Hawk (not surprising since both aircraft share a similar trainer/light-attack role). The G-4 is also equipped with a considerably improved array of avionics as well as a more powerful engine which allows for increased performance figures across the board. Its only foreign customer was Myanmar although it saw significant action as ground attackers during the Bosnia and Kosovo Wars and was a contender for the US JPATS (Joint Primary Aircraft Training System) program. Sadly, the war interrupted a dedicated attack platform then on the drawing boards.

The first prototype of the Super Galeb took to the air on 17 July 1978 followed by the first pre-production G-4PPP aircraft two years later. No major variants were built besides the basic G-4 although a planned single-seat G-5 and a purpose-built attack aircraft with an improved nav/attack system and additional weapons capability was known as the G-4M but eventually interrupted after the breakup of Yugoslavia. G-4 jigs were transferred during the war to the Serbian UTVA plant which is in the process of flight-testing a prototype of the G-4M.

Preceded by:

None

Succeeded by:

None

Datafile

DesignG-4
NameSuper Galeb
TypeLight Attack
Year1983
Crew2
Dimensions
Length12.25 m
Height4.300 m
Wing Span9.88 m
Wing Arean/a
Weight
Empty3,175 kg
Maximum6,300 kg
Wing Loading323.1 kg/m²
Performance
Speed910 km/h
Ceiling12,850 m
Range1,900 km
Powerplant
Engine1 x Viper Mk. 632
Rolls-Royce
1,814 kgf
Thrust/Weight0.52
Armament
Guns-
Payload2,050 kg
Hardpoints4
Production
Builtn/a
Total?