Draken International

Draken International, Inc.
Private
Founded Florida, USA, 2012 (2012)
Founder Jared Isaacman
Headquarters Lakeland, FL, USA
Area served
 United States
Key people
 Jared Isaacman, Chief Executive Officer
Sean Gustafson, Vice President of Client Relations
Jerry Kerby, Vice President of Operations
Dale Snodgrass, Chief Pilot / Deployed Operations
John Baum, Vice President of Training, Tactics and Security
Services Contract air services to the armed forces, including airborne adversary support, flight training, threat simulation, electronic warfare support, aerial refueling, research and testing
Website http://www.drakenintl.com/

Draken International, Inc. is a provider of tactical fighter aircraft for contract air services including military and contract customers. It is based at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. Draken offers airborne adversary support, flight training, threat simulation, electronic warfare support, aerial refueling, research, and testing services to the military and aerospace firms. Their capabilities include air-to-air and air-to-ground tactical training/support, air-to-air refueling and fleet missile defense.[1]

Draken maintains a fleet of 80+ aircraft, used by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. defense contractors for training or systems evaluation. This fleet consists of 30 MiG-21bis fighters, as well as Douglas A-4K Skyhawk attack jets and Aero L-39 Albatros, Aermacchi MB-339 tactical jet trainer aircraft and new Aero Vodochody L-159E Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA). Draken is known to be the only commercial air service provider operating fighter jets equipped with 4th generation technology to include fire-control radars, CATM training missiles, radar warning receivers, datalinks and other special sensors and electronic attack equipment.

In recent news, the company announced a $6.7 million expansion of its headquarters and repair infrastructure at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.[1]

The company CEO is Jared Isaacman.[1]

Fleet

With about 78 jets, the company operates the largest fleet of privately owned former military tactical jet aircraft in the world. The company's fleet includes:[2]

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 (TOPGUN) 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 (FAC-A) Instructors, with some of the more senior pilots having previously served as commanders (USAF) and commanding officers (USN/USMC) of operational squadrons, groups and wings while on active duty.[8]

Board of Advisors

The company's Board of Advisors consists of retired USAF and USMC general officers and USN flag officers who are USAF Command Pilots and USN/USMC Naval Aviators.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Draken International Profile July 2013 Florida Trend
  2. 1 2 Tegler, Jan (July 22, 2013). "Draken International Commercial Air Services". Defence Media Network. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  3. ↑ "Aircraft Inventory - Draken International". drakenintl.com. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Draken International acquires ex Kiwi Skyhawks". australianaviation.com.au. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Aermacchi MB-339 Acquisition Press Release
  6. ↑ Draken Fleet Press Release
  7. ↑ "Government sells L-159 subsonics". Ministry of Defence & Armed forces of the Czech Republic. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  8. ↑ "Capt. Dale Snodgrass USN (Ret.), Chief Pilot / Deployed Operations | Draken International". Drakenintl.com. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
  9. ↑ "Board of Advisors | Draken International". Drakenintl.com. 1946-02-21. Retrieved 2013-05-31.

External links

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