Dutch F-16s were sold to a private military company in Florida, USA

By TOC On Jul 5, 2021

AMSTERDAM, BM,  – The Dutch Ministry of Defense has announced the sale of twelve Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons to Draken International LLC., a US company headquartered at Lakeland Linder International Airport, Florida.

Draken, with a fleet of used military aircraft, offers air support, flight training, air threat simulation, electronic warfare, and air refueling. Draken employees also conduct research and testing for the US Department of Defense, defense contractors, and aerospace companies.

It is noted that the delivery of F-16 fighters and related equipment to Draken International will begin in 2022. The agreement includes an option to resell an additional 28 F-16s. The second group of fighters is expected to be phased out of the Netherlands by May 2024.

As we reported in May, the American private company Top Aces, a private Air Force company, has acquired a 4th generation F-16 fighter and will be the new strike force of the private military. Top Aces and F-16 go down in history as the first private army to acquire this type of fighter.

The delivery of the four second-hand F-16A / B ‘Netz’ fighters, which belonged to the Israeli Air Force, took place earlier this year, and the first test flight took place this month.

Top Aces is a private US air force operating various warplanes. The Pentagon often hires this company to support the regular US Air Force in different parts of the world. Top Aces is expecting to continue to support the Pentagon’s ground, air, and naval operations with the new acquisition.

There are many private armies in the world. The most famous Russian private army, for example, is Wagner. Unlike his American counterparts, however, Wagner operated primarily on third-generation fighters, such as improved versions of the MiG-29.
The private air force receives large contracts with the Pentagon

In the United States and the production of weapons technology, private companies are another profitable business. The Pentagon has never hidden the use of such services. In 2020, for example, it became clear which private sector companies will provide support to US troops around the world.

Draken International, Airborn Tactical Adventure Company, and Tactical Air Support were funded for the next five years by nearly $ 430 million, each with a specific mission. The funds will go mainly to train new personnel enlisted in the US Army, and for this purpose, the companies will use five air bases selected by the Pentagon.

Separately, the United States is providing about $ 6.4 billion to other private companies with more specific and dangerous missions around the world. Analysts at The Drive say the business is starting to multiply. It is only a matter of time before seeing the first fifth-generation fighter in the private air force. Will it be an F-22 or an F-35? Time will tell.