G-2 Galeb

The Soko G‑2 Galeb was a Yugoslav‑designed, twin‑engine jet trainer and light attack aircraft that entered service in the early 1960s. Developed by the SOKO factory in Mostar, the Galeb was the first domestically produced jet aircraft in the former Yugoslavia, marking a major step forward for the nation's aerospace industry. Its design combined a low‑wing monoplane layout with a reinforced metal skin, powered by two Rolls‑Royce Viper turbo‑jets delivering 1,640 lbf each, which gave the aircraft a top speed of about 750 km/h and a service ceiling of 13 000 m. The cockpit featured tandem seating with dual controls, enabling both pilot training and weapons‑systems instruction. Armament options included two 12.7 mm machine guns and under‑wing hardpoints for rockets, bombs, or missiles, allowing the Galeb to serve in counter‑insurgency and close‑air‑support roles. Over 300 units were built and exported to countries such as Libya, Bangladesh and Zambia, and the type remained in frontline service with the Yugoslav Air Force until the 1990s. The G‑2 Galeb’s blend of simplicity, ruggedness, and multi‑role capability made it a cornerstone of Eastern European jet‑training doctrine and a symbol of Yugoslav engineering self‑reliance.

SOKO

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