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Soko G-4 Super Galeb
G-4 Super Galeb
Role	Advanced Trainer & Light Attack
Manufacturer	SOKO/Lola Utva
Designed by	SOKO
First flight	17 July 1978
Introduced	1983
Status	Active
Primary users	Serbian Air Force Myanmar Air Force
Number built	85

The Soko G-4 Super Galeb is a tandem-seat low-wing advanced jet trainer/light attack jet of Yugoslav origin. The plane was first flown 17 July 1978 and production began in 1982. It was built to replace the G-2 Galeb and Lockheed T-33 in the Yugoslav Air Force. The G-4 Super Galeb is not a modified G-2 Galeb as is claimed in some aircraft books, but an entirely new design.

Design and development

In the early 1990s the G-4 was briefly a losing contender in the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program in the U.S and was highly praised by American test pilots who flew it. The Raytheon/Pilatus entry won, and became the T-6 Texan II.

There was also a design for a single-seat version of the G-4 possibly called the "G-5", which would have had greater attack capability including a radar. The G-5 project was dropped due to the disintegration of Yugoslavia.

Soko G-4 Super Galeb diagram from Glasnik RV i PVO, issue 5, 1986.

G-4M Super Galeb

Though it had been suspended due to the civil war and dissolution of Yugoslavia, the program for this upgraded Super Galeb has been revived to provide a more capable type in the armament training and light attack roles. The variant’s improvements stem from the use of more advanced avionics and higher-rated hardpoints complemented by a missile rail at each wingtip. The avionics include a Zrak ENP-MG4 HUD, Rudi Cajavec ENS-MG4 electronic sight, gyro platform, multi function displays, and optional chaff/flare dispensers. The inner and outer hardpoints are each rated at 500 and 350 kg respectively for a maximum disposable load of 1,800 kg. In other respect, the G-4M differs from the G-4 in details such as span of 10.05 m excluding tip-mounted AAMs or 10.31 m including tip-mounted AAMs, aspect ratio of 5.18, empty equipped weight of 3,403 kg without missile rails and 3,435 kg with missile rails, internal fuel weight of 1,376 kg supplemental by up to 925 kg of external fuel in one 449 liter and two 368 liter drop tanks, normal takeoff weight of 4,971 kg as a trainer, maximum takeoff weight of 6,400 kg as an attack warplane, maximum level speed "clean" of 865 km/h at 10,000 m and 900 km/h at 4,000 m, ferry range of 2,900 km with drop tanks; range of 1,800 km with standard fuel reducing to 1,200 km with cannon pack, four BL755 cluster bombs and two AAMs, maximum rate of climb at sea level of 1,800 m per minute, and service ceiling of 12,500 m.¹

Operational history

The G-4 saw many combat missions at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars. In total there were three Super Galebs shot down, aircraft No.23603 flown by Sarvas, No.23631 flown by Lieutenant Colonel Nikola Djerfi and No.23734 flown by Novak Novakovic. All pilots safely ejected. Most interesting is the case of aircraft No.23733 flown by Second Lieutenant Brаnislаv Ivаnоvski, damaged over Lički Ribnik with a Stinger surface-to-air missile fired by Croatian forces. He landed safely in Udbina. The tail of that aircraft is now preserved at the Museum of Aviation in Belgrade while the aircraft continued service in the Air Force with a new tail and engine. This case showed how resistant the G-4 Super Galeb is to missiles. During the Kosovo War the G-4 was used in a few combat missions. There were claims in the Serbian media that G-4 Super Galebs were used in attacks on the Tirana and Tuzla air bases used by NATO but Yugoslav Army officials never affirmed that information, Tirana also denied of any such attack taking place and the report was taken as propaganda. Seven G-4 aircraft from the Leteće Zvezde flying acrobat team were destroyed at Golubovci Airbase.

Technical description

G-4 Super Galeb is single-engined basic/advanced flying and armament trainer with light attack capability.

Powerplant

One DMB (Rolls-Royce/Bristol Siddeley) Viper Mk 632-46 turbojet rated at 17.79 kN dry

Fuel capacity: Internal fuel 1307 kg; external fuel up to 575 kg in two 369 liter drop tanks; no provision for in-flight refueling

Dimensions

Wing: Span 9.88 m; aspect ratio 5.01; area 19.50 m2

Fuselage and tail dimensions: Length 12.25 m including probe and 11.35 m excluding probe; height 4.30 m; tailplane span 3.97 m; wheel track 3,50 m; wheel base 4.15 m Operational weights: Empty 3250 kg equipped; normal takeoff 4,760 kg for a training mission or 6,110 kg on a normal attack mission with a warload of 1,350 kg; maximum takeoff weight 6,330 kg

Performance

Never exceed speed 921 km/h at 11,000 m; maximum level speed "clean" 920 km/h at 6,000 m and 910 km/h at 4000 m; cruising speed, maximum 845 km/h at 6,000 m and economical 550 km/h at 6,000 m

Ferry range 2500 km with drop tanks; range 1,900 km with standard fuel or 1,300 km with cannon pack and four BL755 cluster bombs; radius 390 km on a lo-lo-lo attack mission with cannon pack and four BL755 cluster bombs, or 485 km on a hi-lo-hi attack mission with cannon pack and four BL755 cluster bombs, or 595 km on a lo-lo-lo attack mission with two BL755 cluster bombs and two drop tanks, or 810 km on a hi-lo-hi attack mission with two BL755 cluster bombs and two drop tanks

Maximum rate of climb at sea level 1,860 m per minute; climb to 8,000 m in 6 minutes; service ceiling 12,850 m

G limits: -4.2 to +8

Electronics & operational equipment

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 a reconnaissance pod with cameras and an IR line scanner.

Variants

• G-4 Super Galeb (Super Seagull) : Two-seat basic / advanced jet trainer, light attack aircraft.
• G-4š : Unarmed trainer version of G-4.
• G-4t : Target puller.
• G-4M : Prototype.
• G-4MD : Digital upgrade including HOTAS, HUD, avionics, integrated mission computers, distance measuring equipment, GPS-based navigation systems, identification friend or foe, navcomm units, mission records, and VHF omni-range and instrument landing systems.²

Operators

Current Operators

 Serbia

• Serbian Air Force : Operates 24 G-4s, upgrading 15 to G-4MD²

 Myanmar

• Myanmar Air Force : Est. 6 delivered 1 currently operational.³⁴

 Montenegro 

17 Super Galebs located at Podgorica Airbase, not in active use.^{citation needed}

Former operators

 Yugoslavia/ Yugoslavia

• SFR Yugoslav Air Force/FRY Air Force

Incidents

• A Serbian G-4 Super Galeb piloted by Lt. Col Ištvan Kanas (aged 43), crashed at Batajnica Air Base, near Belgrade on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008. Ištvan Kanas unfortunately did not survive the crash. The cause of the crash is currently unknown and an immediate investigation has been called by the Ministry of Defense and Air Force to determine what happened. Ištvan Kanas was a top Serbian test pilot and member of the aerobatics team, officials say he was practicing for a upcoming airshow. He was a father of two. ⁵⁶

This is the second G-4 Super Galeb ever to crash with tragic consequences after 21 years.[1]

Specifications (G-4)

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General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Payload: 1,700 kg (3,748 lb)
• Length: 11.86 m (38 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 9.88 m (32 ft 5 in)
• Height: 4.28 m (14 ft ½ in)
• Empty weight: 3,134 kg (6,909 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,300 kg (13,889 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× license-built Rolls-Royce Viper 632-46 , 17.8 kN (4,000 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 0.86 (901 km/h / 560 mph)
• Service ceiling 15,000 m (49,212 ft)
• Rate of climb: 1,800 m/min (5,905 ft/min)

Armament

• 1 × 23 mm cannon and various unguided bombs and rockets

In addition to the G-4, the G-4M has payload increased to 1950 kg, and two extra wingtip hard points for R-60/AA-8 Aphid air-to-air missiles. It can also carry the TV-guided AGM-65 Maverick missile, the radio-guided Grom-A air to surface missile (Yugoslav copy of Soviet AS-7 Kerry), and the TV-guided Grom-B air to surface missile (recently Serbian-designed Maverick replacement which is compatible with the Maverick launcher). There is also a laser-guided bomb being designed for it.

Aircraft Gallery

A pair of Super Galebs over the Panonian plain.	A JRV G-4 Super Galeb light attack and training aircraft sits on display at the 1991 Paris Air Show in France.	Soko G-4 Super Galebs in formation flight.	Soko G-4 Super Galeb prototype at the Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France, during the International Airshow.
G-4M prototype on ground.	G-4 Super Galeb of Flight test section (SLI), painted in blue is continuing the tradition of the Flying Stars	G-4T Super Galeb with "30th Anniversary" markings representing 30 years since the Super Galeb's first flight.	Myanmar Air Force Soko G-4 Super Galeb on factory grounds Mostar, SFR Yugoslavia.

See also

• Leteće Zvezde (flying stars - aerobatics team)
• SFR Yugoslav Air Force (JRV i PVO)
  

Related development

• Soko G-2 Galeb
  

Comparable aircraft

• Aero L-39 Albatros
• Aermacchi MB-339
• CASA C-101
• Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
• BAE Hawk
• PZL I-22 Iryda
• Su-25
  

References

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Soko G-4 Super Galeb

• Utva Aircraft
• Yugoimport-SDPR
• Aerosvet Magazine; (entry on it from the International Directory of Design
• Aeroflight