IAR-93 / J-22 Orao
SOKO / Aerostar · Romania · first flew 1974 · fighter
The IAR-93 (Romanian) and J-22 Orao (Yugoslav) are variants of the same twin-engine transonic ground attack aircraft developed jointly by Romania and Yugoslavia during the Cold War, representing a significant non-Soviet Warsaw Pact aerospace achievement.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine ground attack jet developed jointly by Yugoslavia and Romania
- Side-by-side engine air intakes below cockpit
- Single-seat and two-seat trainer variants
Compact twin-engine ground attack jet with intakes flanking the lower fuselage, mid-mounted swept wings and a conventional tail; the configuration somewhat resembles the SEPECAT Jaguar but with a more angular intake arrangement.
Specifications
- The IAR-93 / J-22 Orao has a length of 13.96 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.62 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1160 km/h (721 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 or 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in 1970 under a bilateral agreement, with prototype flights beginning in 1974. The aircraft entered service with both the Romanian and Yugoslav air forces in the early 1980s. The J-22 saw combat in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, operating from Croatian-based units. The Romanian IAR-93 was retired in the late 1990s, while the Serbian successor state's examples served somewhat longer.
Variants
The IAR-93A and B are the Romanian versions; the J-22 Orao 1 and Orao 2 are the Yugoslav/Serbian versions with the Orao 2 featuring afterburning engines.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Romania (IAR-93) and Yugoslavia/Serbia (J-22 Orao); the J-22 saw combat in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s.
Related aircraft
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