Industria Aeronautică Română
IAR 99 Șoim
The IAR 99 Șoim, developed by Romania’s Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR) in the early 1980s, is a two‑seat, jet‑powered advanced trainer and light attack aircraft that has become a cornerstone of the Romanian Air Force. Conceived as a replacement for the aging MiG‑15 and L‑29 trainers, the program began in 1979, and the first prototype flew on 21 June 1985. Series production started in 1987, and more than 100 airframes were delivered to domestic units as well as to the Bulgarian and Portuguese air forces.
Key features include a single‑engine Garrett TFE‑731‑2‑2U turbofan producing 2,640 lbf of thrust, a low‑wing monoplane layout with metal‑rich construction and a glass‑cockpit that integrates multifunction displays, HUD and hands‑on‑throttle‑and‑stick (HOTAS) controls. The aircraft can carry a variety of arsenals—ejector‑rated rockets, 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm gun pods, and light bombs—making it suitable for close‑air‑support and reconnaissance missions. Its avionics suite, upgraded over successive blocks, incorporates NATO‑compatible communication and navigation systems.
The IAR 99 Șoim remains significant because it demonstrated Romania’s capacity to design and produce a modern jet trainer independently during the Cold War, and it continues to serve as a cost‑effective platform for pilot conversion and light combat roles in Eastern Europe.
Key features include a single‑engine Garrett TFE‑731‑2‑2U turbofan producing 2,640 lbf of thrust, a low‑wing monoplane layout with metal‑rich construction and a glass‑cockpit that integrates multifunction displays, HUD and hands‑on‑throttle‑and‑stick (HOTAS) controls. The aircraft can carry a variety of arsenals—ejector‑rated rockets, 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm gun pods, and light bombs—making it suitable for close‑air‑support and reconnaissance missions. Its avionics suite, upgraded over successive blocks, incorporates NATO‑compatible communication and navigation systems.
The IAR 99 Șoim remains significant because it demonstrated Romania’s capacity to design and produce a modern jet trainer independently during the Cold War, and it continues to serve as a cost‑effective platform for pilot conversion and light combat roles in Eastern Europe.
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 28
- First Flight
- 1985
- Service Entry
- 1988