Soko J-22M1A Orao - Eagle's Eye

Surbaissemaxxing · February 1, 2025, 12:14am

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Suggestion No.48

Zdravo. Due to the addition of the IAR-93 Vultur not long ago, I’ve put some thought to make a suggestion about it’s more modern and better Serbian counterpart, which would be the J-22M1 Orao :)

Description:

Spoiler

The Orao J-22M1A is a modernized version of the Yugoslav military aircraft J-22 Orao. This model has been upgraded to meet contemporary demands and improve the aircraft’s performance. The J-22M1A is equipped with advanced avionics, which include modernized systems for navigation, communication, and weapon control, making it carry guided bombs aswell as guided missiles. It also features improved engines that allow better flight performance and greater weapon payload capacity.

History:

Spoiler

The history of the J-22 “Orao” aircraft began in the 1970s, when Yugoslavia decided to develop a domestic military aircraft in collaboration with Romania. The project aimed to create a subsonic attack and reconnaissance aircraft capable of performing various combat tasks. The first prototype of the J-22 took flight on October 31, 1974.

In 2022-2023, a modernized version of the aircraft, named the J-22M1A, was introduced. This version included numerous upgrades, such as advanced avionics, improved engines, and greater weapon payload capacity. The new weapons are the biggest upgrade, as the older Orao’s lacked more/better guided weaponry, let alone better electronics and whatnot to aid with it’s usage.

The J-22 also participated in various military conflicts in the region during the 1990s. The Orao was widely used in the Yugoslav Air Force and, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, in the military forces of Serbia and other successor states of former Yugoslavia. As of now, Serbia is the only operator of any Orao variant.

Armaments:

Spoiler

2 GSh-23L 20mm cannons

R-60M

Kosava K-3 AGM

VRVZ-2000 AGM (ASVL-500 container needed for it to be guided)

VRVZ-240 AGM

VRVZ-200-A1 AGM

VRVZ-200 AGM

VRVZ-24-1 AGM

VRVZ-24 AGM

SALGR 128 AGM

Grom-B AGM

AGM-65B Maverick AGM

M-16D guided rockets

LVB-250/F LGB

IR guided bombs (can’t find out which exact ones)

FAB-250 PGB

250-500kg dumb bombs

Unguided rockets

RADEOM-1 radar jammer

Advanced camera with Gen 3 thermals and LRF

Electronic self-protection systems

Flares/Chaff

(Some images will have J-22M1A’s without their camera, known as J-22M, however all of them should be in the M1A standard now)

Screenshot 2025-01-31 232715

Specifications:

Spoiler

The J-22M1A Orao has dimensions of 14.90m in length, a wingspan of 9.30m, and a height of 4.52m. I can’t find exact info about the M1A engine, so I’ll use the J-22M info instead, as it should be the same. Anyway, it is powered by 2 Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 633-47 turbojets, with a thrust of 17.79 kN (dry) and 22.24 kN (with afterburner). The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 11,080kg and a maximum payload capacity of 2800kg.