The J-22 Orao (Eagle) is the result of one the only significant collaborative efforts among Eastern Bloc nations to develop a major combat aircraft. Partners in this design were Yugoslavia (SOKO) and Romania (Avioane) -or YuRom as the collaboration was called- although most of the research was done by the Vazduhoplovno Tehnicki Institut and the Instilutal de Aviatie in their respective countries. The result was an attack aircraft outwardly similar to the Anglo-French Jaguar (which also shares the same role): a shoulder-wing monoplane equipped with twin license-built Rolls-Royce Viper engines some which are equipped with afterburners. The J-22 has had a remarkably successful combat record during the various Balkan Wars of the 1990s where they were used primarily by Serbian forces and with most having survived to this day. The Romanian version is known as the Avioane IAR-93 and actually accounted for over half of total production.

Both countries' single-seat prototypes first flew on 31 October 1974 with production beginning in 1979 in Romania (by IAv Craiova, now known as Avioane) and in 1980 in Yugoslavia. Both countries' aircraft are generally similar except for minor equipment and armament variations. Romanian variants included the IAR-93A with Viper Mk. 632 engines and the IAR-93B with Viper Mk. 633s (both were built in either single or two-seat versions). Yugoslav variants began with the single-seat pre-production IJ-22 Orao 1 which lacked an afterburner and was therefore relegated to reconnaissance duties along with the two-seat INJ-22. The definitive production variants included the J-22 Orao 2 single-seater with afterburning engines and the NJ-22 two-seat reconnaissance aircraft.