Draken International buys Cobham

On 25 September 2020, the Cobham Group sold its Aviation Services UK business to Draken International LLc. The US based company has its headquarters at Lakeland Linder International Airport, Lakeland (FL).

Aviation Services UK comprise FR Aviation Ltd. including several of its subsidiaries active in the field of aircraft lease, flight inspection and helicopter services at home and abroad. The sale was already reported in December 2019, but at that time the buyer remained undisclosed.

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 US Department of Defence, US defence contractors and aerospace firms, provided by a fleet of former military aircraft. The company owns fourteen former RNZAF and Israeli Air Force A-4 Skyhawks, nine former RNZAF MB339CBs, eighteen former Czech Air Force Aero L-159As and twenty former Ejército del Aire (EdA, Spanish Air Force) Mirage F1s.

With the acquisition of the FR Aviation fleet of fifteen Falcon 20s and one Diamond DA42, Draken has not only expanded its inventory. It has also gained access to the European market, giving hope to future business with USAFE, NATO and, of course the UK military.

It would be great to see Draken International aircraft in Europe.

Photos: Cobham Group and Gert Jan Mentink