Draken International


Draken International, LLC is an American provider of tactical fighter aircraft for contract air services including military and defense industry customers. The firm is based at the Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida and also has an operating base at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
Draken offers airborne adversary support, Joint Terminal Attack Controller, Close Air Support, flight training, threat simulation, electronic warfare support, aerial refueling, research, and testing services to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. defense contractors and aerospace firms, provided by a fleet of former military aircraft. The company CEO is Mr Joe Ford.

History

In March 2018, the company announced a $6.7 million expansion of its headquarters and repair infrastructure at Lakeland Linder International Airport.
On June 1, 2018, the Pentagon announced that the Air Force had awarded Draken a $280 million contract to continue providing training services for the 57th Adversary Tactics Group at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, as well as Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
In November 2018, the Air National Guard awarded Draken a five-year contract to provide red air services to support key combat readiness training exercises throughout the United States.
Draken provides Joint Terminal Attack Controller training and Close Air Support for the United States Marine Corps at MCAS Cherry Point and MCAS Yuma and United States Navy's Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center at NAS Fallon.
Draken was one of seven companies awarded an IDIQ contract to support the USAF's Combat Air Force Contract Air Support program in October 2019.

Fleet

With some 70 jets, the company operates the largest fleet of privately owned former military tactical jet aircraft in the world. The company's fleet includes:
Draken has recently imported the first of up to 25 former Royal Jordanian Air Force Mirage F1CJ, DJ and EJ aircraft.

Aircrew

The company's pilots are a combination of US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps tactical jet pilots who are retired from those services or who continue to serve part-time in the reserve components of those services, including the Air National Guard. Their backgrounds include USAF Weapons School Graduates and Instructors, USN Fighter Weapons School Graduates and Instructors, USAF Aggressor Pilots, USN/USMC Adversary Pilots, USAF Air Liaison Officers, former USAF Thunderbirds demonstration pilots and USAF/USN/USMC Forward Air Controller - Airborne Instructors, with some of the more senior pilots having previously served as commanders and commanding officers of operational squadrons, groups and wings while on active duty.

Activities outside the U.S.

Draken International and Secapem, a French manufacturer of towed aerial gunnery banner, have created a joint venture called SDTS utilising a number of A-4N Skyhawk aircraft.