SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The U.S. Air Force has partnered with Draken International, home to the A-4K Skyhawk and largest private air force in the world. The new branch, located about 30 miles north of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, has allowed our team to take full advantage of what Draken can offer.
“Draken International’s mission is to provide safe, reliable, and realistic threat replication in a wide range of dynamic fighter aircraft coupled with highly-experienced former fighter pilots to train today’s Airmen for tomorrow’s fight,” said Kendall Chauncey, marketing and communications specialist.
The partnership with the 4th Fighter Wing is to efficiently and effectively build working relationships with instructors throughout the training program, provide student aircrews with a challenging adversary who can replicate enemy forces and deliver constructive debriefs to expedite student learning.
“Recently, our team met with the fantastic leadership across the 4 FW to develop processes and procedures, which met the customer’s requirements and integrated seamlessly into everyday wing training events,” said Chauncey.” In less than seven weeks of planning and preparation and developing this partnership, on 8 September, Draken aircrews took to the skies to provide much-needed contract adversaries for 4 FW students.”
Draken projects that at their new branch in North Carolina, they will be able to provide up to 1,000 support missions each year to the surrounding military bases, SJAFB and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
Working with Draken International makes Team Seymour more prepared for possible real-world scenarios against adversaries.
“Many of our pilots, maintainers, logisticians and corporate leadership have either been assigned to the 4 FW or fought alongside them overseas,” said Chauncey. “We understand the importance of and are dedicated to supporting their mission. We are thrilled to be part of the ‘Fourth but First’ family and look forward to our partnership with the entire team.”