Soko J-21 Jastreb

For other uses, see J21.
J-21 Jastreb
Role Attack aircraft
Manufacturer SOKO
Designer Aeronautical Technical Institute (ATI)
First flight 19 July 1965
Status Retired from Republika Srpska Air Force (2006)
Primary user Yugoslav Air Force
Produced 1967-1977
Number built 121
Developed from Soko G-2 Galeb

The Soko J-21 Jastreb is a Yugoslav turbojet attack aircraft, designed by the Aeronautical Technical Institute (ATI), (Serbian: Vojnotehnički Institut Beograd (VTI)), in Belgrade and manufactured by SOKO. Derived from the G-2 Galeb advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft, it was designed in single-seat ground-attack and two-seat advanced flying / weapon training versions.

Design and development

The J-21 Jastreb was developed as a replacement for the Republic F-84 Thunderjet, which had been the most commonly used turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft of the Yugoslav Air Force until 1967. On the basis of the G-2 Galeb, the J-21 Jastreb was developed as a single seat ground attack variant, flying for the first time on 19 July 1965.

Pilots sit on licence-built Folland Type 1-B ejection seats under individual canopies hinged on the starboard side in un-pressuried cockpits. Instruments and controls are entirely conventional with manually operated flying controls and standard flight instruments.

Powered by a single BWB licence-built Rolls-Royce Viper Mk531 the Jastreb has a conventional Aluminium Alloy stressed skin structure with few or no special features. The relatively thick aerofoil section, though limiting performance, provides room for fuel cells and the retracted main undercarriage which retracts inwards, giving the Jastreb a wide track and imbuing it with excellent ground handling characteristics. The levered undercarriage legs and relatively low pressure tyres allow the Jastreb to operate from un-prepared strips or rough surfaced airfields.

Compared to the Galeb, the Jastreb has a strengthened structure, allowing more weapons to be carried, including three 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Browning AN/M3 machine guns with 135 rpg, mounted in the nose of the aircraft. As well as the nose-mounted guns, the Jastreb is able to carry up to 800 kg (1,800 lb) on under-wing pylons, two inner pylons having a capacity of 250 kg (550 lb) for bombs, rocket launchers and additional tanks, while the six outer pylons can carry VRZ-157 127 mm (5.00 in) rockets.

Variants

J-21 Jastreb
Single-seat ground-attack, reconnaissance aircraft.
J-21E Jastreb
Export version of the J-1.
RJ-21 Jastreb
Single-seat tactical reconnaissance aircraft.
RJ-21E Jastreb
Export version of the RJ-1.
NJ-21
Two-seat advanced flying trainer / weapons trainer / light ground attack aircraft.

Operational history

The J-21 entered service with the JRV (Yugoslavian Air Force) on 31 December 1968, with very few, if any, remaining in service.

First Congo War

Further information: First Congo War

According to some reports, France and Yugoslavia supported Mobutu's government during the First Congo War. Namely, Yugoslavia agreed to deliver three J-21 and a single G-2 aircraft, as well as four MiG-21PFMs, while three Mi-24s were purchased from Ukraine. All these aircraft were based at Gbadolite and flown mainly by Serbian mercenaries.

With few exceptions it remains unknown exactly what happened with each of these aircraft and how they were used after their arrival in Zaire, in late 1996-1997. In the case of Mi-24s it is known that one hit a power line and crashed on 27 March 1997, killing the three crewmen and four passengers.

The fate of at least one J-21 Jastreb was not much better: one of the Serbian pilots, Ratko Turčinović, was killed while flying an ultra-low-level pass over Gbadolite, clipping a lamp post with his wing. The wreckage of his aircraft fell directly into a column of young soldiers on a parade, killing dozens. The accident is reported as being attributed to Turčinović's alcohol dependency.[1]

Soon after the accident, the Serbs were expelled from the DRC and the Jastrebs were abandoned along with the Galebs. MiG-21s and Mi-24s, which were awaiting assembly by Russian or Ukrainian technicians at Gbadolite, were also abandoned and can still be seen on the ramp at Gbadolite (2013).[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Six J-21 Jastreb of the Republika Srpska Air Force were engaged by USAF F-16's during Operation Deny Flight. In what would become known as the Banja Luka incident, the Jastreb were engaged after violating the NATO-enforced no-fly-zone. The USAF claimed 4 J-21's as being shot down by F-16's, while the Serbs claimed 5 Jastrebs as lost. The discrepancy likely stems from a damaged Jastreb crashing near the airfield after the F-16's had departed.

Operator

 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Libya Libya

Former Operators

 Croatia
Libya Libyan Jamahiriya
 Yugoslavia
 Zaire

Aircraft on display

Serbia

J-21/RJ-21
The original prototype and over 31 J-21s are located at the Museum of Yugoslav Aviation in Belgrade.[9]

Specifications (J-21 Jastreb)

Line drawing of J-1 Jastreb

Data from [10]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics
K-14C or K-14A gun sight

See also

Related development


References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SOKO J-21 Jastreb.
  1. ↑ Adrian Roman. "Zaire/DR Congo 1980 - 2001 - www.acig.org". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  2. ↑ http://airserbia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1561
  3. ↑ "Le contrôle". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Mi 24 bis". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Mil MI 24 Hind". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Nez pointu". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "MIG 21 bis". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "Soko J-21 Jastreb". Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Muzej Yugoslovenskog Ratnog Vazduhoplovstva: Museum of the Yugoslav Air Force". Aviation Museum. 12 August 2009.
  10. ↑ J-1 Jastreb (Hawk) Vojska.net
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