SOKO J-21 Jastreb

SOKO · Yugoslavia · first flew 1965 · fighter

The SOKO J-21 Jastreb (Hawk) was a Yugoslav single-seat light attack aircraft developed from the two-seat G-2 Galeb trainer. It was designed to give the Yugoslav Air Force a domestically produced ground-attack capability.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.88 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Yugoslav single-seat light attack jet of 1960s
Mid-wing with moderate sweep and wingtip fuel tanks
Tail-mounted turbojet with lateral air intakes

Similar in appearance to the Galeb trainer but with a single-seat cockpit. The moderately swept mid-wing, wingtip fuel tanks, and lateral engine intakes feeding a rear turbojet are the key recognition features.

Specifications

The SOKO J-21 Jastreb has a length of 10.88 m (36 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.56 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 820 km/h (510 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flying in 1965, the Jastreb entered Yugoslav Air Force service in the late 1960s and was also exported to Libya and Zambia. It was designed with simplicity and ease of maintenance in mind, suitable for operations from austere airfields.

Variants

The IJ-21 was a reconnaissance variant with cameras in the nose; the RJ-21 was a two-seat conversion trainer. The NJ-22 Orao was a later, more capable development.

Where you'll see it

The Jastreb served with the Yugoslav Air Force and its successor states through the 1990s conflicts; Libya received a batch for light attack duties, and Zambia operated a small number.

Related aircraft

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