Bombardier says first PEGASUS aircraft lands in Germany

HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier (BDRBF) Defense have reached another key milestone in the PEGASUS programme: the first aircraft has arrived in Germany. Following its transatlantic flight from Bombardier’s facility in Wichita, Kansas, the aircraft has landed at Lufthansa Technik’s headquarters in Hamburg last week, where the next major phase of the programme will now begin. Led by national electromagnetic warfare champion HENSOLDT and employing the extensive special mission aircraft capabilities of Lufthansa Technik, the German MRO specialist, and of Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer, the PEGASUS programme will provide the German Armed Forces with a state-of-the-art airborne signals intelligence capability. The arrival of the first aircraft marks the transition from platform design and development in the United States to the mission system integration and certification phase in Germany. At Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, the next steps will include the integration of the SIGINT system based on HENSOLDT’s Kalaetron Integral, the installation of the mission cabin, and the integration of additional military and communication systems. Moreover, the company will handle both civil and military certification of the aircraft. In parallel, preparations for entry-into-service support are already underway – including training of technical and flight personnel and the creation and provision of technical documentation – to ensure a smooth transition into operational use.