Germany to order additional Pegasus spy jets to reduce reliance on US intelligence
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Germany plans to purchase at least three additional Pegasus signals intelligence aircraft, increasing the total fleet to up to nine units, to enhance the Bundeswehr’s independent electronic intelligence capability and fill the long-standing gap left by the retirement of the Breguet Atlantic.
According to DefenseArchives on November 02, 2025, Germany plans to expand its Pegasus airborne signals intelligence fleet by procuring at least three additional aircraft based on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet, increasing the total number from three to potentially six or nine units. Potentially ensuring a continuous production through 2028, the new order will reinforce Germany’s independent surveillance capabilities and reduce reliance on US-provided intelligence data, a shortfall that became evident during the Ukrainian war.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Pegasus program, officially called the Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System, was launched to restore Germany’s airborne signals intelligence capability that was lost after the retirement of the Breguet Atlantic and the cancellation of both the Euro Hawk and MQ-4C Triton projects. (Picture source: Hensoldt)
Germany plans to expand its Pegasus airborne signals intelligence fleet with a follow-on purchase of at least three additional aircraft based on the Bombardier Global 6000, increasing the total number from three to potentially six or nine units. The expansion is part of Berlin’s effort to reinforce its independent surveillance capabilities and reduce reliance on allied intelligence data, a shortfall that became evident during the early stages of the Ukraine conflict. The first aircraft achieved its maiden flight from Bombardier’s Wichita facility in September 2024, followed by multiple test sorties. It is scheduled for transfer to Lufthansa Technik Defense in Hamburg in the summer of 2025 for mission-system integration, with operational service targeted for 2027. The follow-on contract, expected to be finalized before the end of 2025, will extend deliveries through 2028 and ensure continuous production for the Bundeswehr’s Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann” based in Schleswig.
The new aircraft will follow the same configuration as the initial three Pegasus units and will incorporate Hensoldt’s Kalaetron Integral suite, an advanced signals intelligence system designed for electronic and communications intelligence missions. The Pegasus program involves the close cooperation of Hensoldt as the main contractor responsible for the SIGINT mission system, Lufthansa Technik Defense as the airframe modifier and systems integrator, and Bombardier Defense as the platform supplier. Around 30 German industrial partners are contributing to the project, maintaining sovereign control over key technologies and ensuring full access to data and system components. The aircraft will provide real-time intelligence collection on radar and radio emissions, contributing to early warning, crisis monitoring, and the generation of electronic order-of-battle information. The data collected will directly support operational planning and targeting for Eurofighter EK aircraft, F-35A fighters, and the future luWES airborne electronic attack capability.
The Pegasus program, officially designated as the “Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System,” was initiated to fill a capability gap left by the 2010 retirement of the Breguet 1150 Atlantic SIGINT aircraft. Previous plans to use uncrewed systems such as the RQ-4 Euro Hawk and the MQ-4C Triton were abandoned due to excessive cost, integration complexity, and airspace certification issues within European civil aviation standards. The adoption of a crewed aircraft based on the Global 6000 offered a reliable and certifiable platform compatible with both civil and military flight operations. The project was approved by the Bundestag’s Defense Committee in June 2021 with a total budget of approximately €1.54 billion. The contract covers three aircraft, a reference and training system, an evaluation facility, and a dedicated ground segment. Financing since 2023 has been supported by the Bundeswehr’s special fund to accelerate delivery timelines and ensure readiness by 2027.
The joint industrial effort between Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik Defense, and Bombardier Defense has advanced through several milestones. In late 2023, the program successfully completed the critical design review, which confirmed the system’s readiness for full-scale implementation. The rollout of the first Pegasus aircraft occurred in mid-2024, followed by successful initial flight testing later that year. During testing, pilots confirmed that despite the structural modifications to accommodate sensors and antennas, the aircraft maintained flight characteristics consistent with standard Global 6000 performance. Following certification flights in the United States, the aircraft will be ferried to Germany for the installation of its mission suite and final systems integration. Production of cabin modules, operator stations, and mission consoles is already underway in Hamburg to streamline assembly once the airframes arrive.
At the core of Pegasus lies the Hensoldt Kalaetron Integral system, a comprehensive signals intelligence suite capable of detecting, classifying, and geolocating radar and communication emitters within a continuous frequency range from below 30 MHz up to 40 GHz. The system integrates both ELINT and COMINT functions in a single architecture and employs automated, machine learning–assisted workflows to manage and analyze large volumes of data. This enables operators to generate a constantly updated electronic order of battle and provides commanders with near real-time situational awareness across multiple domains. The system combines long-range detection with high-altitude endurance, allowing wide-area reconnaissance over contested regions while maintaining a safe stand-off distance. Its modular design permits multi-platform use, supporting integration across aerial, maritime, and land-based systems for joint intelligence operations.
Hensoldt’s development of the Kalaetron family also includes the Kalaetron Attack system, an airborne jamming solution based on active electronically scanned array and digital radio frequency memory technology. This system has been flight-tested on a PC-12 platform to verify compatibility with onboard electronics and to demonstrate jamming effectiveness against integrated air-defense radars. Kalaetron Attack can operate in stand-off, escort, or stand-in jamming configurations, capable of countering multiple radar threats simultaneously. The system’s software-defined and AI-supported architecture allows rapid adaptation to evolving threats, while its modular hardware design enables installation in pods or direct integration into airframes. Hensoldt plans to integrate both Kalaetron Integral and Kalaetron Attack in future configurations to provide a full-spectrum capability combining signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and self-protection across the German Armed Forces’ fleet.
The Pegasus aircraft is based on Bombardier’s Global 6000 business jet, which measures 30.3 meters in length, with a wingspan of 28.7 meters and a height of 7.8 meters. It has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 45,200 kilograms, a maximum service ceiling of 16,000 meters, and can sustain cruise speeds around 904 km/h, with a maximum speed of 946 km/h. Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofan engines producing 65.6 kilonewtons of thrust each, it achieves a maximum range of roughly 6,000 kilometers. The aircraft’s Bombardier Vision flight deck features four multifunction displays, a head-up display, synthetic and enhanced vision systems, and advanced weather radar, allowing precise navigation during extended missions. Its structural and avionics modifications include reinforced antenna mounts, additional power generation capacity, and upgraded cooling systems to support continuous electronic surveillance operations.
The Global 6000’s quiet cabin, long endurance, and available civil maintenance infrastructure also contribute to reduced life-cycle costs and high mission availability of the Pegasus. The cabin, measuring 14.8 meters in length and 2.41 meters in width, accommodates multiple operator workstations and a crew rest area, ensuring sustained operations over long missions. Each aircraft includes a ground support interface for data transfer and real-time mission coordination. Following the completion of flight testing and certification, the aircraft will be stationed at Schleswig Air Base under Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann,” operating alongside Tornado ECR and reconnaissance variants as well as Heron TP unmanned systems. With the expansion to up to nine aircraft, Pegasus will form the backbone of Germany’s airborne electronic intelligence network, supporting early warning, operational targeting, and NATO’s integrated electronic warfare and reconnaissance missions.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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Germany plans to purchase at least three additional Pegasus signals intelligence aircraft, increasing the total fleet to up to nine units, to enhance the Bundeswehr’s independent electronic intelligence capability and fill the long-standing gap left by the retirement of the Breguet Atlantic.
According to DefenseArchives on November 02, 2025, Germany plans to expand its Pegasus airborne signals intelligence fleet by procuring at least three additional aircraft based on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet, increasing the total number from three to potentially six or nine units. Potentially ensuring a continuous production through 2028, the new order will reinforce Germany’s independent surveillance capabilities and reduce reliance on US-provided intelligence data, a shortfall that became evident during the Ukrainian war.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Pegasus program, officially called the Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System, was launched to restore Germany’s airborne signals intelligence capability that was lost after the retirement of the Breguet Atlantic and the cancellation of both the Euro Hawk and MQ-4C Triton projects. (Picture source: Hensoldt)
Germany plans to expand its Pegasus airborne signals intelligence fleet with a follow-on purchase of at least three additional aircraft based on the Bombardier Global 6000, increasing the total number from three to potentially six or nine units. The expansion is part of Berlin’s effort to reinforce its independent surveillance capabilities and reduce reliance on allied intelligence data, a shortfall that became evident during the early stages of the Ukraine conflict. The first aircraft achieved its maiden flight from Bombardier’s Wichita facility in September 2024, followed by multiple test sorties. It is scheduled for transfer to Lufthansa Technik Defense in Hamburg in the summer of 2025 for mission-system integration, with operational service targeted for 2027. The follow-on contract, expected to be finalized before the end of 2025, will extend deliveries through 2028 and ensure continuous production for the Bundeswehr’s Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann” based in Schleswig.
The new aircraft will follow the same configuration as the initial three Pegasus units and will incorporate Hensoldt’s Kalaetron Integral suite, an advanced signals intelligence system designed for electronic and communications intelligence missions. The Pegasus program involves the close cooperation of Hensoldt as the main contractor responsible for the SIGINT mission system, Lufthansa Technik Defense as the airframe modifier and systems integrator, and Bombardier Defense as the platform supplier. Around 30 German industrial partners are contributing to the project, maintaining sovereign control over key technologies and ensuring full access to data and system components. The aircraft will provide real-time intelligence collection on radar and radio emissions, contributing to early warning, crisis monitoring, and the generation of electronic order-of-battle information. The data collected will directly support operational planning and targeting for Eurofighter EK aircraft, F-35A fighters, and the future luWES airborne electronic attack capability.
The Pegasus program, officially designated as the “Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System,” was initiated to fill a capability gap left by the 2010 retirement of the Breguet 1150 Atlantic SIGINT aircraft. Previous plans to use uncrewed systems such as the RQ-4 Euro Hawk and the MQ-4C Triton were abandoned due to excessive cost, integration complexity, and airspace certification issues within European civil aviation standards. The adoption of a crewed aircraft based on the Global 6000 offered a reliable and certifiable platform compatible with both civil and military flight operations. The project was approved by the Bundestag’s Defense Committee in June 2021 with a total budget of approximately €1.54 billion. The contract covers three aircraft, a reference and training system, an evaluation facility, and a dedicated ground segment. Financing since 2023 has been supported by the Bundeswehr’s special fund to accelerate delivery timelines and ensure readiness by 2027.
The joint industrial effort between Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik Defense, and Bombardier Defense has advanced through several milestones. In late 2023, the program successfully completed the critical design review, which confirmed the system’s readiness for full-scale implementation. The rollout of the first Pegasus aircraft occurred in mid-2024, followed by successful initial flight testing later that year. During testing, pilots confirmed that despite the structural modifications to accommodate sensors and antennas, the aircraft maintained flight characteristics consistent with standard Global 6000 performance. Following certification flights in the United States, the aircraft will be ferried to Germany for the installation of its mission suite and final systems integration. Production of cabin modules, operator stations, and mission consoles is already underway in Hamburg to streamline assembly once the airframes arrive.
At the core of Pegasus lies the Hensoldt Kalaetron Integral system, a comprehensive signals intelligence suite capable of detecting, classifying, and geolocating radar and communication emitters within a continuous frequency range from below 30 MHz up to 40 GHz. The system integrates both ELINT and COMINT functions in a single architecture and employs automated, machine learning–assisted workflows to manage and analyze large volumes of data. This enables operators to generate a constantly updated electronic order of battle and provides commanders with near real-time situational awareness across multiple domains. The system combines long-range detection with high-altitude endurance, allowing wide-area reconnaissance over contested regions while maintaining a safe stand-off distance. Its modular design permits multi-platform use, supporting integration across aerial, maritime, and land-based systems for joint intelligence operations.
Hensoldt’s development of the Kalaetron family also includes the Kalaetron Attack system, an airborne jamming solution based on active electronically scanned array and digital radio frequency memory technology. This system has been flight-tested on a PC-12 platform to verify compatibility with onboard electronics and to demonstrate jamming effectiveness against integrated air-defense radars. Kalaetron Attack can operate in stand-off, escort, or stand-in jamming configurations, capable of countering multiple radar threats simultaneously. The system’s software-defined and AI-supported architecture allows rapid adaptation to evolving threats, while its modular hardware design enables installation in pods or direct integration into airframes. Hensoldt plans to integrate both Kalaetron Integral and Kalaetron Attack in future configurations to provide a full-spectrum capability combining signals intelligence, electronic warfare, and self-protection across the German Armed Forces’ fleet.
The Pegasus aircraft is based on Bombardier’s Global 6000 business jet, which measures 30.3 meters in length, with a wingspan of 28.7 meters and a height of 7.8 meters. It has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 45,200 kilograms, a maximum service ceiling of 16,000 meters, and can sustain cruise speeds around 904 km/h, with a maximum speed of 946 km/h. Powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 turbofan engines producing 65.6 kilonewtons of thrust each, it achieves a maximum range of roughly 6,000 kilometers. The aircraft’s Bombardier Vision flight deck features four multifunction displays, a head-up display, synthetic and enhanced vision systems, and advanced weather radar, allowing precise navigation during extended missions. Its structural and avionics modifications include reinforced antenna mounts, additional power generation capacity, and upgraded cooling systems to support continuous electronic surveillance operations.
The Global 6000’s quiet cabin, long endurance, and available civil maintenance infrastructure also contribute to reduced life-cycle costs and high mission availability of the Pegasus. The cabin, measuring 14.8 meters in length and 2.41 meters in width, accommodates multiple operator workstations and a crew rest area, ensuring sustained operations over long missions. Each aircraft includes a ground support interface for data transfer and real-time mission coordination. Following the completion of flight testing and certification, the aircraft will be stationed at Schleswig Air Base under Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann,” operating alongside Tornado ECR and reconnaissance variants as well as Heron TP unmanned systems. With the expansion to up to nine aircraft, Pegasus will form the backbone of Germany’s airborne electronic intelligence network, supporting early warning, operational targeting, and NATO’s integrated electronic warfare and reconnaissance missions.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
