G-4 Super Galeb

infobox Aircraft
name = Soko G-4 Super Galeb
type = Advanced Trainer & Light Attack
manufacturer = SOKO/Lola Utva

---

caption = G-4 Super Galeb
designer = SOKO
first flight =17 July 1978
introduced =1983
retired =
primary user = Serbian Air Force
more users = Myanmar Air Force
number built = 85
status = Active

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.

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. [ [http://wiki.airserbia.com/show_image.php?id=7&scaled&scalesize=0&nocount=y Serbia] ]

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. 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.

;PowerplantOne 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

;DimensionsWing: 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

;PerformanceNever 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 equipmentStandard 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. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/08/11/310538/serbian-air-force-targets-fleet-modernisation.html]

Operators

Current Operators

;SRB
* Serbian Air Force : operates 24 G-4s, upgrading 15 to G-4MD [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/08/11/310538/serbian-air-force-targets-fleet-modernisation.html]

;flag|Myanmar
* Myanmar Air Force : operates 12 G-4s.Fact|date=August 2008

;MNE : 17 Super Galebs located at Podgorica Airbase, not in active use.Fact|date=August 2008

Former operators

;YUG/FR-YUG
*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 a 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. [http://www.mod.gov.yu/novi.php?action=fullnews&id=649] [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=09&dd=24&nav_id=53717] This is the second G-4 Super Galeb ever to crash after 21 years. [http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2008&mm=09&dd=24&nav_id=320295]

pecifications (G-4)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
ref=
crew=two
capacity=
payload main=1,700 kg
payload alt=3,748 lb
length main= 11.86 m
length alt= 38 ft 11 in
span main= 9.88 m
span alt= 32 ft 5 in
height main= 4.28 m
height alt= 14 ft ½ in
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,134 kg
empty weight alt= 6,909 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 6,300 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 13,889 lb
more general=
engine (jet)= license-built Rolls-Royce Viper 632-46
type of jet=
number of jets=1
thrust main= 17.8 kN
thrust alt= 4,000 lbf
thrust original=
after burning thrust main=
after burning thrust alt=
max speed main= Mach 0.86
max speed alt= 901 km/h / 560 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main= 15,000 m
ceiling alt= 49,212 ft
climb rate main= 1,800 m/min
climb rate alt= 5,905 ft/min
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* 1 × 23 mm cannon and various unguided bombs and rocketsIn 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.
avionics=

Aircraft Gallery

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Soko G-2 Galeb
similar aircraft=
* Aero L-39 Albatros
* Aermacchi MB-339
* CASA C-101
* Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
* BAE Hawk
* PZL I-22 Iryda
* Su-25
lists=
see also=
*Leteće Zvezde ("flying stars" - aerobatics team)
*SFR Yugoslav Air Force (JRV i PVO)

References

Bibliography

* Gunston, Bill. "The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes: The Development and Specifications of All Active Military Aircraft". New York: MetroBooks, 1995. ISBN 1-58663-207-8.
* Gunston, Bill. "Encyclopedia Of World Air Power". London: Crescent, 1987. ISBN 0-51749-969-X.

External links

* [http://www.utvaaviation.co.yu Utva Aircraft]
* [http://www.yugoimport.com Yugoimport-SDPR]
* Aerosvet Magazine; ( [http://www.penrose-press.com/idd/card.php?INDEX=MAG28227&SUBJECT=SUB10004 entry on it from the International Directory of Design]
* [http://aeroflight.co.uk Aeroflight]