Germany has officially received the first aircraft of the PEGASUS program, a Bombardier Global 6000 modified for advanced electronic reconnaissance missions.
The jet landed in Hamburg after a transatlantic flight from the United States, marking a new milestone in the Bundeswehr’s intelligence-modernization project.
Built at Bombardier’s facility in Wichita, Kansas, the aircraft was transferred to Lufthansa Technik’s facilities, where it will undergo the next stages of systems integration. According to the portal Hartpunkt, the work now focuses on the full installation of surveillance and signals-intelligence equipment.
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The program is jointly led by Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense. Its objective is to provide the Bundeswehr with a modern and highly capable platform for signals intelligence (SIGINT) missions, an area considered strategic for contemporary military operations.
The Bundeswehr initially ordered three aircraft, but industry sources indicate that at least three additional units are needed to form a more robust flotilla capable of sustaining continuous electronic-intelligence operations.
The PEGASUS system (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) was developed to restore and expand Germany’s airborne surveillance capabilities, which had faced significant gaps since the retirement of previous systems.
The solution is based on the Bombardier Global 6000 platform, adapted for long-duration missions with high technical complexity.
The aircraft has a range exceeding 11,000 km, an approximate speed of 935 km/h, and is operated by two pilots, in addition to a team of mission-system operators.
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Source and images: Hensoldt | Bombardier Defense | Lufthansa Technik. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
