Draken International
{{Short description|American provider of fighter aircraft}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Draken International, LLC
| logo = Draken signage.svg
| logo_size =
| image = Draken_front.jpg
| image_caption = An A-4 Skyhawk and a MiG-21 on display in front of company headquarters.
| type = Private
| foundation = {{Start date|2012}}
| founder = Jared Isaacman
| defunct =
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| location_country =
| location = Lakeland, Florida, US
| locations =
| area_served = United States
| key_people = Nic Anderson (CEO)
| industry =
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| owner = Blackstone Inc.
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| homepage = {{URL|https://www.draken.aero|draken.aero}}
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}}
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 operating bases at Kinston Regional Jetport and Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas.
Draken offers airborne adversary support (Red Air), Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), Close Air Support (CAS), 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.
History
File:N146EM Douglas A-4k s-n 155063 (1970) Draken International (32654397681).jpg
Draken was established by Jared Isaacman at Lakeland Linder International Airport in January 2012.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20160107/News/608074943/LL/|title=Aviation company finds success in Lakeland|access-date=2021-02-03|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208043729/https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20160107/News/608074943/LL/|url-status=dead}} In 2015, the company was awarded contracts to provide training for the Air National Guard (ANG) at Volk Field in Wisconsin, for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Joint Tactical Air Control at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, as well as providing “adversary support” at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. It also won a contract with the French Navy.{{Cite news |title=Aviation company finds success in Lakeland |language=en-US |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20160107/News/608074943/LL/ |access-date=2021-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208043729/https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20160107/News/608074943/LL/ |archive-date=2021-02-08}}
In March 2018, Draken announced a $6.7 million expansion of its headquarters and repair infrastructure at Lakeland Linder International Airport.{{cite web|url= https://draken.aero/who-we-are/|title= Who We Are|access-date= 24 April 2023|author= Draken International|work= draken.aero|year= 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230421192247/https://draken.aero/who-we-are/|archive-date= 21 April 2023|url-status= live}}
On 1 June 2018, the Department of Defense announced that the U.S. Air Force (USAF) had awarded Draken a $280 million contract to continue providing training services for the 57th Adversary Tactics Group at Nellis AFB, as well as Luke AFB in Arizona and Hill AFB in Utah.{{Cite news|url=https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1538123/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225535/https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1538123/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2018|title=Contracts for June 1, 2018|work=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|access-date=2018-09-11|language=en-US}}
In November 2018, the ANG awarded Draken a five-year contract to provide red air services to support key combat readiness training exercises throughout the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.173fw.ang.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1548747/173rd-fighter-wing-expands-training-with-contract-adversary-air/|title=173rd Fighter Wing expands training with contract adversary air|work=173rd Fighter Wing|access-date=2018-09-11|language=en-US}}
Draken provides JTAC training and CAS for the USMC at MCAS Cherry Point and MCAS Yuma, Arizona and United States Navy's (USN) Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center at NAS Fallon, Nevada.{{Cite web|title=Draken International Awarded USMC Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) Contract {{!}} Draken International|url=http://www.drakenintl.com/blog/blog/news-and-press/draken-international-awarded-usmc-joint-terminal-air-controllers-jtac-contract|website=www.drakenintl.com|access-date=2020-05-01|archive-date=2019-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911071716/http://www.drakenintl.com/blog/blog/news-and-press/draken-international-awarded-usmc-joint-terminal-air-controllers-jtac-contract|url-status=dead}}
Draken was one of seven companies awarded an IDIQ contract to support the USAF's Combat Air Force Contracted Air Support (CAF CAS) program in October 2019.{{Cite web|title=U.S. Air Force Awards $6.4 Billion of Adversary Contracts|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-10-19/us-air-force-awards-64-billion-adversary-contracts|last=Donald|first=David|website=Aviation International News|language=en|access-date=2020-05-01}}
In 2020, Blackstone bought Draken International.{{Cite web |last=McCrea |first=Aaron |date=2024-12-04 |title=Jared Isaacman nominated as next NASA administrator |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/12/nasa-administrator-2025/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}
On May 24, 2021, a Mirage F1 operating in the adversarial role crashed near Nellis AFB. The pilot was killed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/05/24/aircraft-crashes-near-nellis-air-force-base-pilot-a-contractor-reported-dead/|title=Draken pilot dies in Mirage F1 crash near Nellis Air Force Base|date=25 May 2021}}{{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/red-air-dassault-mirage-f1-crashes-near-nellis-afb-pilot-killed/|title= 'Red Air' Dassault Mirage F1 Crashes Near Nellis AFB, Pilot Killed|access-date= 27 May 2021|last= Phelps|first= Mark|work= AVweb|date= 25 May 2021|archive-url= https://archive.today/20210527210101/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/red-air-dassault-mirage-f1-crashes-near-nellis-afb-pilot-killed/?MailingID=622|archive-date= 27 May 2021|url-status= live}} Military officials and the National Transportation Safety Board launched investigations.{{cite news |last=Ritter |first=Ken |date=May 26, 2021 |title=NTSB, military probing fatal jet crash near Nellis Air Force Base |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/05/25/ntsb-military-probing-fatal-jet-crash-near-nellis-air-force-base/ |work=The Air Force Times |location= |access-date=May 26, 2021}}
In 2021, Draken announced agreements to purchase up to 24 F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Netherlands and Norway. {{Cite web |last=Forsvarsdepartementet |date=2021-12-02 |title=Norge selger et mindre antall F-16 til Draken International |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/norge-selger-et-mindre-antall-f-16-til-draken-international/id2890530/ |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=Regjeringen.no |language=no}}{{cite web |date= |title=Draken Doubles Its Fleet Of Private Aggressor F-16s With A Dozen Surplus Jets From Norway |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43379/draken-doubles-its-fleet-of-private-aggressor-f-16s-with-a-dozen-surplus-jets-from-norway |accessdate=2 June 2021 |publisher=The War Zone}} However, as of 2024 the sales have been cancelled and the aircraft redirected to Ukraine and Romania.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-06 |title=Ukraine conflict: Netherlands cancels F-16 sale to Draken International, freeing up airframes for Kyiv |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/ukraine-conflict-netherlands-cancels-f-16-sale-to-draken-international-freeing-up-airframes-for-kyiv |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Default |language=en}}
Fleet
File:FWIT 2017 N262EM (49816404176).jpg
File:Cobham Falcon about to touch down.jpg
With approximately 150 jets, the company operates the largest fleet of privately owned former military tactical jet aircraft in the world. The company's fleet {{asof|2021|lc=y}} included:{{cite web|url = https://www.aircraftit.com/news/worlds-largest-commercial-fleet-of-tactical-ex-military-aircraft-draken-international-trusts-ramco-aviation/#:~:text=About%20Draken%20International%3A&text=Draken%20with%20a%20fleet%20of,of%20traditional%20military%20fighter%20assets.| title = World's largest commercial fleet of tactical ex-military aircraft, Draken International TRUSTS Ramco Aviation | work = Ramco Aviation | accessdate = 2022-07-07}}
- 13 A-4K Skyhawks{{cite web|url=http://drakenintl.com/aircraft-inventory.html|title=Aircraft Inventory - Draken International|work=drakenintl.com|accessdate=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814011013/http://drakenintl.com/aircraft-inventory.html|archive-date=14 August 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2012/08/draken-international-acquires-ex-kiwi-skyhawks/|title=Draken International acquires ex Kiwi Skyhawks|work=australianaviation.com.au|accessdate=25 May 2015}}
- 23 L-159E ALCA{{cite news | title = Government sells L-159 subsonics | date = 5 January 2014 | url = http://www.army.cz/en/ministry-of-defence/newsroom/news/government-sells-l-159-subsonics-93130/ | work = Ministry of Defence & Armed forces of the Czech Republic | accessdate = 2014-01-14}}
- 21 Dassault Mirage F1{{Cite web|title=Dassault Mirage F1|author=Draken International|url=http://www.drakenintl.com:80/catalog/aircraft-inventory/mirage-f1m-radar-equipped-supersonic-jets|website=www.drakenintl.com|access-date=2020-05-01|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191227010546/http://www.drakenintl.com:80/catalog/aircraft-inventory/mirage-f1m-radar-equipped-supersonic-jets|archive-date= 27 December 2019|url-status=dead}}
- 25 MiG-21bis{{Cite web|title=Mikoyan MIG-21BIS|author=Draken International|url=http://www.drakenintl.com/catalog/aircraft-inventory/mikoyan-mig-21bis-probe-equipped|website=www.drakenintl.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200515072247/http://www.drakenintl.com/catalog/aircraft-inventory/mikoyan-mig-21bis-probe-equipped|archive-date= 15 May 2020|url-status=dead}}
- 12 Atlas Cheetah{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/16966/draken-picks-up-a-dozen-south-african-cheetahs-to-emulate-4th-generation-adversaries |title= Draken picks up 12 South African-cheetahs |publisher= The War Zone |date=14 December 2017|accessdate=2 June 2021}}
- 15 Dassault Falcon 20 were acquired by the takeover of Cobham Aviation as Draken Europe in 2020{{cite web |title=Draken Europe Launches Brand |url=https://www.draken.aero/news/draken-europe-launches-brand/ |website=Draken Europe |access-date=18 May 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Donald |first=David |title=Draken Buys Cobham's Falcon Fleet; ATAC Lands Eglin Deal |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-09-30/draken-buys-cobhams-falcon-fleet-atac-lands-eglin-deal |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Aviation International News |language=en}}
In 2020, to supplement the fleet of former Spanish Air Force aircraft, Draken imported the first of up to 25 former Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) Mirage F1CJ, DJ and EJ aircraft.{{Cite web|title=Draken International receives first former Royal Jordanian Air Force Mirage F1|url=https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2020/04/draken-international-receives-first-former-jordanian-mirage-f1.html|last=Staff|first=Blog Before Flight|website=Blog Before Flight - Aerospace and Defense News|access-date=2020-05-01}}{{Cite web|last=Forsvarsdepartementet|date=2021-12-02|title=Norge selger et mindre antall F-16 til Draken International|url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/norge-selger-et-mindre-antall-f-16-til-draken-international/id2890530/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Regjeringen.no|language=no}}
Aircrew
The company's pilots are a combination of USAF, U.S. Navy and USMC 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, U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) graduates and instructors, USAF aggressor pilots, USN/USMC adversary pilots and Strike Fighter Tactics Instructors (SFTI), USAF air liaison officers, former USAF Thunderbirds demonstration pilots and USAF/USN/USMC Forward Air Controller - Airborne (FAC-A) instructors, with some of the more senior pilots having previously served as commanders (USAF) and commanding officers (USN/USMC) of operational fighter, strike fighter, and Marine fighter attack squadrons, groups and wings while on active duty or in the Reserve Components.{{cite web |url=http://drakenintl.com/capt-dale-snodgrass-usn-ret-chief-pilotdeployed-operationscongressional-liaison |title=Capt. Dale Snodgrass USN (Ret.), Chief Pilot / Deployed Operations | Draken International |publisher=Drakenintl.com |accessdate=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130629013310/http://drakenintl.com/capt-dale-snodgrass-usn-ret-chief-pilotdeployed-operationscongressional-liaison |archivedate=2013-06-29 }}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.secapem.com/sdts/ |title=SDTS |website=SECAPEM}}
In September 2020 Draken International purchased Cobham Aviation Services based in Bournemouth, UK, and renamed it Draken Europe. Draken Europe fly a range of aircraft, with their largest fleet being heavily modified Dassault Falcon 20s, fitted with a range of equipment to provide Operational Readiness Training.{{Cite web |title=Ready Everywhere – Draken - Home |url=https://draken.aero/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Draken |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commonscat|Draken International}}
- {{Official website|https://www.draken.aero/}}
Category:American companies established in 2012
Category:Aerospace companies of the United States