Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik Defence, and Bombardier Defence have jointly announced the successful maiden flight of the PEGASUS aircraft from Bombardier's Wichita, Kansas facility. The PEGASUS, led by Hensoldt, serves as an airborne mission platform equipped with the Kalætron Integral Signit system for crucial signal surveillance operations for the German armed forces. With the aircraft advancing towards the next phase under the guidance of Lufthansa Technik Defense for system integration and certification, a celebratory event was held to commemorate the achievement of the PEGASUS aircraft's inaugural flight. Delegates from Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik, Bombardier Defense, and the German Armed Forces gathered in Wichita from Germany, Canada, and various parts of the United States to mark this significant milestone in the program.
The Bombardier Flight Test Centre (BFTC) team in Wichita carries out this phase of aircraft testing, with skilled pilots from Bombardier validating crucial elements of the program. The successful tests showcase the exceptional performance of Bombardier Global aircraft in fulfilling the critical missions of the German Air Force. This marks a major achievement for the initial three adapted Global 6000 aircraft set for delivery to the German Bundeswehr.
“Germany’s next-generation signal intelligence aircraft is flying high,” said Steve Patrick, Vice President, Bombardier Defense. “This successful first flight is the result of the strong collaboration and shared knowledge between Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik Defense, Bombardier Defense and our suppliers, to get the modified, high-performing Global 6000 aircraft for the PEGASUS program in the air. With flight testing regularly underway from Bombardier’s Wichita base, the aircraft continues to gather essential certification data to improve and perfect the platform before it moves to the next stage.”
“Today marks an important milestone for the Pegasus programme,” said Dietmar Thelen, Head of Spectrum Dominance Division at Hensoldt. “With the integration of our Kalætron-Integral system, we are delivering key components that are essential for the ‘reconnaissance of tomorrow’. This achievement underscores the excellent cooperation between Hensoldt, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense.”
“Seeing the first PEGASUS aircraft taking to the skies bearing the Lufthansa Technik Defense logo fills me with pride and also joyful anticipation, as it brings us one decisive step closer to welcoming this aircraft back at our site,” says Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President Special Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik. “I’d like to congratulate and thank the outstanding Bombardier Defense team for their great performance in reaching this important project milestone, and I look forward to the upcoming flight test activities as well as the ongoing cooperation with Hensoldt in the subsequent integration and certification of their highly sophisticated signals intelligence system.”
In June 2021, Hensoldt secured a contract to provide an airborne electronic signals intelligence system for three Bombardier Global jets using its Kalætron Integral system. Following the award, HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense, and Bombardier have worked together closely on a collaborative design project. Substantial structural modifications have been carried out to ready the first aircraft at Bombardier Defense's facility in Wichita, Kansas, where a significant portion of the company's adept defence workforce is based. This location serves as the hub for the initial ground and flight testing operations.
Following the initial testing phase, each aircraft will be moved to the facilities of Lufthansa Technik Defense in Hamburg for further integration procedures. The company is also tasked with obtaining the necessary regulatory certification for the PEGASUS system at the aircraft's overall level. Lufthansa Technik has already finalized the design work related to integrating the mission system, additional civil and military avionics, and the aircraft cabin. Production of interior components has commenced to ensure their readiness for immediate installation upon the aircraft's arrival in Hamburg. Concurrently, Hensoldt is adjusting the systems architecture to meet the operational requirements of the German Bundeswehr. Ongoing hardware and software developments are demonstrating the significant potential and capabilities of the forthcoming solution through various demonstrations.
Hensoldt is acting as a general contractor and bears overall responsibility for the realization of the project. Lufthansa Technik Defense will act as a subcontractor, procuring the modified aircraft from Bombardier and fitting and integrating the reconnaissance system developed by HENSOLDT into the platform. Many small and medium-sized enterprises from all over Germany, Canada and the U.S. are involved in the project as part of the supply chain for all companies bringing PEGASUS to the finish line.
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