Standard armament became a pair of 23mm GSh-23L internal cannons for close-in work. Five hardpoints were used to carry various external ordnance options including missiles, conventional drop bombs, and rocket pods. Supported weapons including AGM-65 Maverick guided missiles, Matra Durandal runway denial bombs, and cluster bombs. The aircraft could haul up to 6,200lbs in stores.
Four major variants of the Eagle were ultimately realized. The IJ-22 "Orao 1" (note use of "I") was a designation used to mark the initial fifteen preproduction airframes originating in Yugoslavia and these were deployed without their expected afterburning engines. The J-22A "Orao 1" was the first production-quality model in single-seat form but still retained non-afterburning powerplants. The J-22B "Orao 2" followed and this was the first form to see the afterburner engines installed. It also incorporated improvements in the cockpit and for weapons. Total production of this mark yielded 165 units and were delivered while there was still a unified Yugoslavia. The NJ-22 "Orao" became a two-seat reconnaissance model outfitted with special equipment and some 35 were eventually delivered. This mark utilized both non-afterburning and afterburning turbojets depending on the batch.
Unlike the Romanian IAR-93 - which did not see combat service in its time aloft - the SOKO J-22 was used in anger during the Yugoslav Wars which spanned from March of 1991 to June 1999 - resulting in the breakup of the Yugoslav nation. The wars encompassed the Slovenian War of 1991, the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995), the Bosnian War (1992-1995), and the Kosovo War (1998-1999). The aircraft was used in the low-level strike and reconnaissance roles during the conflicts where results proved mixed - several losses were also incurred to ground-based fire and further attrition was seen through the NATO bombing campaign which destroyer examples on the ground. The series persevered into the post-war years where it was taken on by both Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Serbia. It is believed that none remain in service with the former and only a few remain in active status with the latter.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
