G-4 Super Galeb
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| G-4 Super Galeb | |
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 G-4 Super Galeb |
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| Type | Fighter Bomber |
| Manufacturer | SOKO/Lola Utva |
| Designed by | SOKO |
| Maiden flight | 17 July 1978 |
| Introduced | 1983 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | Serbian Air Force Myanmar Air Force |
| Number built | 85 |
The G-4 Super Galeb is a tandem-seat low-wing advanced jet trainer/light attack jet of Yugoslav origin. The plane was first flown July 17, 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.
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[edit] Development
In the early 1990s the G-4 was a 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.
[edit] G-4M Super Galeb
Though it had been abeyance because of the civil war and dissolution of Yugoslavia as a real entity, 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 wing tip. 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 1800 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 3403 kg without missile rails and 3435 kg with missile rails, internal fuel weight of 1376 kg supplemental by up to 925 kg of external fuel in one 449 liter and two 368 liter drop tanks, normal take-off weight of 4971 kg as a trainer, maximum take-off weight of 6400 kg as an attack warplane, maximum level speed ‘clean’ of 865 km/h at 10000 m and 900 km/h at 4000 m, ferry range of 2900 km with drop tanks; range of 1800 km with standard fuel reducing to 1200 km with cannon pack, four BL755 cluster bombs and two AAMs, maximum rate of climb at sea level of 1800 m per minute, and service ceiling of 12500 m.[1]
[edit] 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 take-off 4760 kg for a training mission or 6110 kg on a normal attack mission with a warload of 1350 kg; maximum take-off weight 6330 kg
- Performance
Never exceed speed 921 km/h at 11000 m; maximum level speed ‘clean’ 920 km/h at 6000 m and 910 km/h at 4000 m; cruising speed, maximum 845 km/h at 6000 m and economical 550 km/h at 6000 m
Ferry range 2500 km with drop tanks; range 1900 km with standard fuel or 1300 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 1860 m per minute; climb to 8000 m in 6 minutes; service ceiling 12850 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 linescaner.
[edit] Operational service
The G-4 saw a few combat missions at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars. In total there were three Super Galebs shot down over Croatia, 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, shot down 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 Super Galeb is to missile shots. During the Kosovo War the G-4 was used in a few combat missions. There were claims in the Serbian media that 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Current Operators
- Serbian Air Force - operates 25 G-4]'s.
- Myanmar Air Force - operates 12 G-4]'s.
- 9 G-4's located at Podgorica Airbase, not in active use.
[edit] Former operators
Yugoslavia- SFR Yugoslav Air Force Operated 60
[edit] Specifications (G-4)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.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.
[edit] See also
- Leteće Zvezde (flying stars - aerobatics team)
Related development
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
[edit] External links
- Utva Aircraft
- Yugoimport-SDPR
- Aerosvet Magazine; (entry on it from the International Directory of Design
- Aeroflight
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