All the Yugoslav aircraft factories that had existed before World War II were destroyed during the German occupation, and it was some two or three years after 1945 before it was possible to resume design and construction. Established as Preduzece SOKO in 1951, and now named SOKO Vazduhoplovna Industrija, Ro Vazduhoplovstvo, SOKO began licence construction of various foreign aircraft before it began design of its own first aircraft in 1957. This was the SOKO G2-A Galeb (seagull) two-seat trainer. Similar in configuration to the Aermacchi M.B.326, the first of two prototypes was flown during May 1961 and production was started in 1963. Powered by a 1134kg thrust Rolls-Royce Viper 22-6 turbojet, the G2-A was the standard version for the Yugoslav air force. A G2-AE export variant became available from late 1974 and was built for Libya and Zambia.
The Galeb was complemented by a
generally similar but higher performance single-seat light attack/tactical reconnaissance version designated J-1 Jastreb (hawk), which had a strengthened airframe and was powered by the improved Rolls-Royce Viper 531 turbojet. This was built as the J-1 attack and RJ-1 tactical reconnaissance aircraft for the Yugoslav air force, with corresponding J-1E and RJ-1 E versions for export. For operational conversion a two-seat TJ-1 was developed. Production of all versions of the Jastreb ended during 1978, and of the G-2A Galeb in 1983. It is unlikely that any Jastrebs or Galebs remain in use in Yugoslavia, and the status of the Libyan and Zambian aircraft is uncertain.
