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| Soko J-22 Orao |
Militarymedia.net | The Soko J-22 Orao (Eagle) is a light ground attack and tactical reconnaissance aircraft with a secondary low-level interception role. Orao was developed in the 1970s as a joint Yugoslav-Romanian project. The aircraft is built as a single-seat attack version or as a dual-seat combat trainer. The planes were made by Soko in Yugoslavia and Avioane Craviola in Romania. It is used by both countries. The Romanian version is designated as the IAR-93 Vultur. Currently the Serbian Air Force operates a total of 32 J-22 Orao aircraft.
This twin-engine subsonic aircraft has a simple structure and is built using both original and licensed avionics and equipment. The J-22 Orao recommends itself as a robust aircraft (capable of operating unprepared airfields and damaged runways), easy to maintain and operate. It was designed as a conventional twin-engine, high-winged aircraft with a sweeping flying surface. It was originally planned to power this aircraft with a single British design engine, which would allow the Orao to reach supersonic speeds. However, the UK did not authorize the production-licence of the machine because Romania was a member of the Warsaw Pact. It was therefore decided to use the underpowered Rolls-Royce Viper engine, making it a twin engine.
The first Yugoslav prototype made its first flight in 1976 from the Batajnica air base, located in Belgrad. In 1984 the Orao, piloted by test pilots broke the sound barrier in a shallow dive while flying over Batajnica air base, making it the first Yugoslav-designed aircraft to exceed Mach 1. However, the subsonic J-22 Orao was unable to penetrate it. sound barrier in flat flight.
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| Soko J-22 Orao |
Soko J-22 Orao Variant
IJ-22 Orao 1, designation applied to 10 pre-production Yugoslav aircraft with non-afterburning engines and used for the tactical reconnaissance role. It is equipped with a pod, carrying optical or infrared sensors.
The J-22A Orao 1, a Yugoslav variant similar to the Romanian IAR-93A, is equipped with a non-afterburning engine consisting of two Rolls-Royce/Bristol Siddley Viper Mk 632-41R, license manufactured by Orao/Turbomecanica, but larger in size and carry a greater variety of weapon loads.
The J-22B Orao 2, a Yugoslav variant similar to the Romanian IAR-93B with an afterburning powerplant, a larger and more diverse weapon payload than the J-22 Orao 1 and also equipped with a Thomson-CSF head-up display. This version is made only in a single seat configuration.
NJ-22 Orao, a special two-seat reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Yugoslav Air Force. It is with a centrally mounted reconnaissance pod with optical and infrared sensors. The aircraft made its first flight in 1986. A total of 35 of these aircraft were delivered in versions NJ-22 Orao 1 and NJ-22B Orao 2, equipped with non-afterburning and afterburning power plants, respectively.
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| Soko J-22 Orao |
