The Soko J-22 Orao is a Yugoslav twin-engine ground-attack and reconnaissance aircraft developed jointly by SOKO and IAR for low-level strike missions. Open sources describe it as a rugged subsonic jet armed with cannon and external stores, with documented combat use in the Yugoslav wars and Operation Allied Force.
The Orao was developed as a Yugoslav-Romanian low-level strike aircraft and entered service in the late 1970s. Open references place the first prototype flight in 1974, service entry in the late 1970s, and combat use in the 1999 Kosovo campaign.
| Date | Event | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1974-02-22 | First prototype flight | The first prototype flew on 22 February 1974. |
| 1978 | Service introduction | Open references place the type's entry into service in the late 1970s. |
| 1999-03-24 | Combat sorties in Kosovo | Orao aircraft flew strike and reconnaissance missions during Operation Allied Force. |
Military Factory places the Orao in the Yugoslav Wars and notes its use in strike and reconnaissance roles during the conflicts, including the Croatian War of Independence.
Military Factory and the Royal Air Force's 1994 Bihać pocket analysis describe Orao strike sorties by Serbian and Yugoslav forces over Bosnia during the war.
The model saw combat sorties in Operation Allied Force, with open references describing Yugoslav Oraos flying strike and reconnaissance missions during the 1999 campaign.
Timeline
The first prototype flew on 22 February 1974.
Sources: Soko J-22 Orao - Muzej vazduhoplovstva
Open references place the type's service introduction in the late 1970s.
Sources: Soko J-22 and Avioane Craiova IAR-93 - Pickled Wings
The type flew combat sorties during Operation Allied Force, including strike and reconnaissance missions over Kosovo.
Sources: Soko J-22 Orao - MilitaryFactory
