A Lakeland company has amassed about 50 fighter jets at its Lakeland Linder Regional Airport headquarters.
Draken International is using the jets to provide adversaries for combat training for U.S. military pilots.
Draken has hired former military fighter pilots to fly its jets. Draken said it is much cheaper for it and other companies to act as adversaries in training exercises than for the Pentagon to use its own jets.
"Our cost savings to the DOD is in the billions of dollars over a period of years," said Lt. Colonel Jerry Kerby, who retired from the Air Force after 23 years of service. He is now Draken's Vice President of Operations.
Draken is now mainly providing adversary training for Navy pilots off the California coast, but it is hoping to land a major new contract that would include the Air Force.
Draken's main jets have what it calls fourth-generation capabilities. The advanced avionics allow its pilots to track military pilots so they are not sitting ducks.
"We know they are spiking us with their radar so we can maneuver our aircraft according to the game plan we present," said Draken pilot Lt. Colonel Sean Gustafson. Gustafson is the company's Vice President for Client Relations.
Draken has a large hangar and facilities at the airport where its jets are assembled and maintained. The jets have been purchased largely from New Zealand and European countries.
It hopes to provide adversary pilots and jets for other countries as well.