Pegasus Advances as First Aircraft Lands in Germany

The Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (Pegasus) has reached a milestone with the arrival of its first aircraft in Germany, following a transatlantic flight from Bombardier’s Wichita facility. Last week, the Global 6000 platform landed at Lufthansa Technik’s Hamburg headquarters, where the program now shifts from U.S.-based design and development to mission-system integration and certification.

Led by defense developer Hensoldt, with Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense as key partners, Pegasus will deliver a next-generation airborne signals intelligence (SIGINT) capability to the German Armed Forces. The program centers on Hensoldt’s Kalaetron integral system, which will be installed along with a full mission cabin and additional military and communications systems at Lufthansa Technik. Bombardier Defense supplies and supports the Global 6000 platform.

Hensoldt v-p for airborne SIGINT, Jürgen Halder, called the aircraft’s arrival “a decisive step towards operational capability,” noting that the program is transitioning from design and testing into full implementation. Bombardier Defense v-p Steve Patrick emphasized the Global series’ suitability for demanding government missions, while Lufthansa Technik v-p Michael von Puttkamer described the milestone as the beginning of “an exciting new phase.”

Lufthansa Technik will manage both civil and military certification, while preparations for entry-into-service support, including personnel training and technical documentation, are already underway.