Draken International
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
| Founded | January 2012 |
| Founder | Jared Isaacman |
| Headquarters | Lakeland, Florida , United States |
Area served | United States, International |
Key people | Jared Isaacman (founder) |
| Products | Tactical fighter jets, Contracted aerial services, Pilot training, Adversary air support |
| Owner | Blackstone (since 2020) |
| Website | drakenintl |
Draken International, LLC is a privately held American enterprise specializing in tactical fighter jets and contracted aerial services tailored for military and defense sectors. Its main office is situated at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, with supplementary operations based at Kinston Regional Jetport and Kelly Field in Texas. Draken caters to the U.S. Department of Defense, defense industry contractors, and aerospace companies by delivering services such as adversary air support (Red Air), Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) instruction, Close Air Support (CAS), pilot training, threat emulation, electronic warfare assistance, aerial refueling, as well as research and testing utilizing a fleet composed of retired military aircraft.
History
Established in January 2012 by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman at Lakeland Linder International Airport, Draken swiftly obtained significant contracts. By 2015, its services encompassed training for the Air National Guard at Volk Field, Wisconsin; JTAC instruction for the U.S. Marine Corps at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, and Twentynine Palms, California; adversary support missions at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; along with contracts supporting the French Navy.
In March 2018, Draken invested $6.7 million to enhance its headquarters and maintenance infrastructure. Subsequently, in June of the same year, the U.S. Air Force awarded a $280 million contract for training operations aiding the 57th Adversary Tactics Group across Nellis AFB, Luke AFB in Arizona, and Hill AFB in Utah. Later that year, the Air National Guard granted a five-year agreement for red air services designed to bolster combat readiness exercises nationwide.
The company also delivers JTAC training and CAS for the U.S. Marine Corps at MCAS Cherry Point and MCAS Yuma in Arizona, as well as supporting the U.S. Navy’s Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center located at NAS Fallon, Nevada. In October 2019, Draken was selected among seven firms awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to assist with the USAF's Combat Air Force Contracted Air Support initiative.
In 2020, private equity firm Blackstone acquired Draken International, strengthening its organizational framework and financial resources. On May 24, 2021, a Mirage F1 operated by Draken crashed near Nellis AFB resulting in the loss of the pilot’s life; subsequent investigations were conducted by both military authorities and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Draken revealed plans in 2021 to procure up to 24 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Netherlands and Norway to augment its aggressor aircraft fleet. Nevertheless, by 2024 these transactions were canceled as the jets were redirected to Ukraine and Romania due to evolving geopolitical considerations.
Fleet
Operating approximately 150 jets, Draken International maintains the largest privately owned collection of former military tactical jets worldwide. As of 2021, its inventory comprised:
- 13 A-4K Skyhawk
- 23 L-159E ALCA
- 21 Dassault Mirage F1
- 25 MiG-21bis
- 12 Atlas Cheetah
- 15 Dassault Falcon 20, acquired through the 2020 acquisition of Cobham Aviation under Draken Europe
In 2020, Draken expanded its assets by adding up to 25 former Royal Jordanian Air Force Mirage F1CJ, DJ, and EJ variants to complement its existing Spanish Air Force fleet. The company also procured a limited number of F-16s from Norway to further broaden its tactical jet capabilities. This varied assortment underpins Draken’s core business model focused on delivering sophisticated adversary air support and tactical training solutions to defense clients around the globe.
Aircrew
The pilots employed by the company are predominantly former or reserve tactical jet aviators from the USAF, U.S. Navy, and USMC, including personnel from the Air National Guard. Their qualifications feature alumni and instructors from prestigious institutions such as the USAF Weapons School and the TOPGUN. Their backgrounds also encompass roles like USAF aggressor pilots, adversary pilots for USN/USMC, Strike Fighter Tactics Instructors (SFTI), air liaison officers, and ex-demonstration pilots. Many senior aviators have commanded operational units in fighter, strike fighter, and Marine fighter attack squadrons across both active duty and reserve forces, highlighting the company’s depth of strategic leadership and operational expertise.
Activities outside the U.S.
Draken International broadened its international presence through a partnership with French aerial gunnery banner manufacturer Secapem, creating SDTS and operating A-4N Skyhawk aircraft. In September 2020, Draken purchased Cobham Aviation Services based in Bournemouth, UK, which was subsequently renamed Draken Europe. This branch manages a varied fleet, notably extensively modified Dassault Falcon 20 jets configured for Operational Readiness Training, thereby strengthening Draken’s position and competitiveness within the global defense training market.