Based on the IAR-822, it was a conventional low-wing monoplane with fixed, tailwheel undercarriage and differed from its predecessor mainly being a design for an all-metal version of the 822.

The design was completed under the leadership of engineer Radu Manicatide in 1973, at IMFCA Bucharest (Institutul de Mecanica Fluidelor și Cercetări Aerospațiale — Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Aerospace Research).

Since the wooden structure technique was obsolete, the team led by Manicatide produced a design for an all-metal version of the 822.

A low-wing monoplane, the fuselage skin was entirely made of aluminium and the controls and trimmer were electrically actuated.

The all-metal structure, although much more stiffer, lowered even more the already weak thrust to weight ratio.