The Soko J-22 Orao is a Yugoslav twin-engine, subsonic ground attack and air reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed and built-in collaboration by SOKO in Yugoslavia and by Avioane Craiova in neighboring Romania, known in the latter as the IAR-93 Vultur.
The J-22 Orao is a joint project of Yugoslavia and Romania – the countries which tried to pursue an independent policy in the aviation industry during the cold war. In the beginning of this period, the fleet consisted of MiG-17 and F-86 types.
Development of the J-22 Orao began in 1970 by engineers and designers of the Yugoslavian Aeronautical Technical Institute and the Romanian Institute of Science and Technology. The aircraft was powered by a British Rolls Royce Viper Mk.632-4IR engines, which were in license production in Yugoslavia and Romania. It was also equipped with British Martin Baker ejection seats and Soviet GSh-23 cannons. This fact emphasizes the uniqueness and originality of the aircraft design.