The first aircraft destined for Germany’s PEGASUS airborne signals intelligence program has arrived in the country, marking the start of system integration and certification work ahead of entry into service.
On December 11, 2025, HENSOLDT announced that the aircraft had landed in Hamburg following a transatlantic ferry flight from Bombardier’s facility in Wichita, Kansas. The platform will now undergo modification and mission-system installation at Lufthansa Technik.
The PEGASUS aircraft is based on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet, selected by Germany as the replacement platform for its retired airborne signals intelligence capability.
Integration work shifts to Germany
At Lufthansa Technik Defense’s Hamburg site, the aircraft will be fitted with HENSOLDT’s Kalætron Integral SIGINT system, as well as secure communications and mission equipment. Lufthansa Technik is also responsible for managing civil and military certification activities.
HENSOLDT is acting as the prime contractor for the PEGASUS program, overseeing mission systems and overall integration. Bombardier Defense is supplying the aircraft platform and will provide engineering support during the modification phase.
The arrival of the first aircraft marks the transition from platform preparation in the US to full system integration in Germany, a phase expected to last several years.
Signals intelligence missions and system role
PEGASUS is designed to conduct airborne signals intelligence missions, including the detection, interception, classification, and geolocation of electromagnetic emissions. These missions typically cover radar signals, military communications, and other electronic activity, supporting strategic intelligence, situational awareness, and early warning.
The Kalætron Integral system is intended to operate across a wide frequency range and to fuse data from multiple onboard sensors in real time. The system is designed to support long-endurance missions at high altitude, enabling persistent coverage over large areas.
The aircraft are expected to support both national intelligence tasks and NATO operations, including monitoring air-defense networks, military movements, and electronic order-of-battle developments during peacetime, crisis, or conflict.
A new airborne SIGINT capability for the Bundeswehr
PEGASUS, short for Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System, is intended to restore Germany’s airborne signals intelligence capacity after the retirement of older reconnaissance aircraft such as the German Navy’s Breguet Atlantic aircraft.
In 2020, Germany selected the Global 6000 business jet as its preferred platform for the PEGASUS. The program currently includes three Global 6000-based aircraft, optimized for long-endurance, high-altitude intelligence collection missions. The system is designed to support both national and NATO intelligence requirements.
German defense officials have previously indicated that the number of aircraft could be increased beyond the initial three, subject to future operational needs and budget decisions. Initial operational capability for PEGASUS is expected later in the 2020s.
