Soko J-21 Jastreb

The Soko J-21 Jastreb (English: Hawk), referred to as the J-1 Jastreb in some sources, is a Yugoslav single-seat, single-engine, light attack aircraft, designed by the Aeronautical Technical Institute (ATI) and Vojnotehnički Institut Beograd (VTI), in Belgrade and manufactured by SOKO in Mostar. 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.

For other uses, see J21.
J-21 Jastreb
Role Light 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 1968–1977
Number built 224
Developed from Soko G-2 Galeb

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-pressurised 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.

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
A sketch of a Zairean Air Force Jastreb that was flown by the Serbian mercenaries, sporting the camouflage of now-defunct Yugoslav Air Force, with insignia erased to avoid confusion.

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.[1]

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

On November 15, during the Battle of the Dalmatian Channels, at 9:28 a.m. three Yugoslav Air Force J-21 Jastrebs flew low over Brač and Šolta; minutes later, two were reportedly shot down by anti-aircraft artillery. Six Yugoslav jets were sortied against targets on Brač and Šolta.

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.

Operators
Libya

Former operators
 Republika Srpska
  • operated 12 J-21 for training and for ground attack,
Libyan Jamahiriya
 Yugoslavia
 Zaire
  • Zaire Air Force
 Zambia

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

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 10.88 m (35 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.56 m (34 ft 8 in)
  • Height: 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 19.43 m2 (209.1 sq ft)
  • Max takeoff weight: 5,100 kg (11,244 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 440 kg (970 lb) internal fuel + 435 kg (959 lb) in 2x 275 l (60 imp gal; 73 US gal) jettisonable wing-tip fuel tanks.
  • Powerplant: 1 × BMB (Rolls-Royce/Bristol Siddeley) Viper Mk 531 turbojet engine, 13.32 kN (2,990 lbf) thrust
  • Powerplant: 2 × JATO units solid-fuelled rockets, 4.45 kN (1,000 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 820 km/h (510 mph, 440 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 740 km/h (460 mph, 400 kn) at 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
  • Range: 1,520 km (940 mi, 820 nmi) with tip tanks
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
  • g limits: +8 -4
  • Rate of climb: 21 m/s (4,100 ft/min)

Armament

  • Guns: 3 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Browning AN/M3 machine guns
  • Hardpoints: 8 with a capacity of inboard pylons (2 of) 250 kg (550 lb), outboard pylons (6 of) 50 kg (110 lb),with provisions to carry combinations of:
    • Other:
  • 2 × 150 l (33 imp gal; 40 US gal) napalm tank
  • 2 × rocket pods each with 12x 55 mm (2.17 in) rockets
  • Rockets: 6 × VRZ-157 127 mm (5.00 in) rockets
  • Bombs:
  • 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) general-purpose bombs or
  • 2 × 150 kg (330 lb) cluster bombs or
  • 2 × 120 kg (260 lb) cluster fragmentation bombs

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

See also

Related development

References
  1. Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Pit; Kyzer, Jonathan; Grandolini, Albert. "Zaire/DR Congo 1980 - 2001". acig.org. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  2. http://airserbia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1561%5B%5D
  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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