SOKO J-21 Jastreb (Hawk)

History

The former Yugoslav SOKO J-21 "Jastreb" ("Eagle") is a further development of the original 1961 G-2 "Galeb" (detailed elsewhere on this page). The two-seat Caleb is the country's first domestically designed, developed and produced aircraft, fulfilling the role of advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft for the Yugoslav Air Force. 248 were completed from 1965 to 1983. The J-21 continued this lineage as a direct offshoot and was specifically designed as a single-seat light attack platform, followed by the Type 121 produced from 1967 to 1977.

The Yugoslav Air Force is again the main operator.

While the G-2 was deployed to replace the aging, discontinued series of US Lockheed T-33 Meteor trainers, the J-21 was selected to replace the aging, discontinued series of US Republic F-84 Thunder jet fighter-bombers. [ /p]

Jastreb got a more powerful engine, which increased power and capability, which allowed additional mounts to be installed to withstand greater wartime loads. The aircraft's internal structure has been strengthened and support for JATO (Jet Assisted Takeoff) has been introduced for better short-field operation (2 solid rocket booster units, each with 1,000 lbs of thrust).

3 x 12.7mm Browning AN/M3 Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) now take their place in the nose assembly, replacing the G-2's twin guns. Eight hardpoints support missiles and conventional throwing weapons, including napalm and cluster bombs.

Due to its G-2 origins, the J-21 retains much of the form and function of earlier designs. The hull has a slim profile to accommodate a crew member under a light frame canopy for good visibility. The plane is powered by a single turbojet engine buried in the slender fuselage, which is sucked in by a pair of small air intakes mounted on either side of the fuselage. The main planes of the wings are straight and truncated at the ends, with attached armor.

The empennage consists of a vertical fin and a low horizontal plane. The landing gear remains a fully retractable tricycle arrangement.

Power comes from a BMB (Rolls-Royce/Bristol Siddeley) Viper Mk 531 turbojet with nearly 3,000 pounds of thrust. Performance figures include a top speed of 820 km/h, a cruising speed of 740 km/h, a range of up to 1,520 km and a service ceiling of 12,000 metres.

The climb rate is 4,100 feet per minute.

The original production model, known simply as the J-21, was designed to be used as a reconnaissance aircraft in addition to ground attack missions. The J-21E became the export version of the brand. The RJ-21 serves as a more dedicated reconnaissance model and is equipped with appropriate photographic reconnaissance (camera) equipment to accomplish the mission. The RJ-21E, in turn, is the export version of this model.

The NJ-21 was designed as a two-seat modern jet trainer, retaining some of the light attack capabilities of the J-21 family.

The J-21 participated in the First Congo War (1996-1997) and the Yugoslav War in the 1990s. Several Serbian J-21s were attacked and shot down by USAF Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcons. The J-21 family of operators later included the Libyan Air Force, Republika Srpska, Zaire and Zambia.

Some examples fell into the hands of free Libyan Air Force rebels during the Libyan civil war in 2011.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes