Germany Receives First Pegasus Aircraft for Airborne SIGINT Platform

Germany has received the first aircraft for its Pegasus airborne signals intelligence programme, initiating the critical integration, testing and certification phase in Hamburg.

HENSOLDT said in a statement today that the aircraft arrived at Lufthansa Technik’s headquarters after its transatlantic flight from Bombardier’s Wichita facility, shifting the programme from U.S. design work to full mission-system implementation in Germany.

HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense are driving the effort to deliver a new airborne SIGINT capability for the Bundeswehr. The platform will incorporate HENSOLDT’s Kalaetron Integral system, designed to collect and analyse radar and radio signals.

Lufthansa Technik will now integrate the SIGINT suite, install the mission cabin and add military and communication systems while handling civil and military certification. Preparations for entry-into-service support are progressing, including personnel training and technical documentation.

HENSOLDT serves as the general contractor for the Pegasus weapon system, ground station, training facility and data analysis infrastructure. Lufthansa Technik Defense modifies the aircraft, and Bombardier Defense provides the Global 6000 platform and engineering support. The programme, valued at more than one billion euros, includes three aircraft and has been under joint design since the contract award in June 2021. In June 2024, the partners confirmed integration of the SIGINT system into the Global 6000.