Germany’s armed forces Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (PEGASUS) programme underwent its first test flight at Bombardier’s Wichita, Kansas Flight Test Center, the three companies involved with the project announced on October 23rd. Selected as the country next signal intelligence (SIGINT) platform, the PEGASUS aircraft development programme had just concluded extensive testing and structural modification work on the first Bombardier Global 6000 business jet aircraft selected for the platform. The start of the flight testing phase brings the aircraft closer to undergoing the integration of the powerful Kalætron Integral, the SIGINT mission sensors and systems suite designed by Germany-based Hensoldt.
After the selection of the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet as the flying platform for the PEGASUS in 2020, three aircraft supplied by Bombardier were subsequently delivered to Lufthansa Technik Defense before redeployment to Wichita. Once there, the aircraft began undergoing modification work from April 2022. Rolling out of the modification line on June 5th 2024, a rigorous series of ground tests was undertaken on the first modified aircraft, validating critical work in anticipation of the upcoming flight-testing phase. Handed over to the Bombardier Flight Test Centre (BFTC) pilots team, the flight testing phase which is now officially underway will see the program enter its most critical phase. With the two other aircraft also stated to join the flight-testing phase as soon as they exit the modification line, the programme intends to have the aircraft receive its full certification. At that point, the aircraft will be ready to fly to Hamburg where the system integration phase involving Lufthansa Technik Defense and Hensoldt is due to take place.
While at Hamburg’s Lufthansa Technik Defense facility, Hensoldt whose Kalætron Integral has been selected as the airborne signal intelligence solution powering the PEGASUS mission, is expected to begin, collaborating with Lufthansa Technik engineers, integrating the powerful system to the airframe.
Combining both a radar signals (ELINT) and communication signals (COMINT) detection capabilies, Kalætron Integral solution offer a scalable modular mission system which has been packaged on very stringent SWaP-C size, weight, size and power-cost requirements for deployment on the Bombardier Global 6000. Covering signals across the entire electromagnetic spectrum with its higly sensitive sensors, the aircraft computing capabilities are provided by its on-board big data management platform. In all, it is able to process signals continuously captured through its wideband receivers covering from 30 MHz at the lower end, up to 40 GHz. The automated real-time filtering and classification of detected signals relies on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms. In that fashion, the system is able to build a very precise picture geolocating all military forces operating electronic equipment within a 400 km radius. In facts, the intensity and flow of key electronic communications being exchanged between various units in an area can reveal not only their disposition, but also their posture (defensive or offensive) as Big Data predictive analytics can also warn of their intention. The same can be achieved from the detection of radar signals emitted by ennemy forces, hence allowing the system to generate a very precise Electronic Order of Battle. With the high endurance of the Bombardier Global 6000 platform and ability to remain in the air for up to 9 hours, Germany’s three PEGASUS aircraft will provide a higly persistent signal intelligence-based Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform.