After leaving Hamburg in early 2024, the primary PEGASUS returned to Germany to obtain the devoted Kalætron Integral SIGINT suite by Hensoldt.
Germany’s first PEGASUS (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) SIGINT (Alerts Intelligence) plane, primarily based on the Bombardier’s World 6500 enterprise jet, was photographed at Hamburg airport on Dec. 4, 2025. The plane arrived there for the subsequent section of its transformation, with the set up of the devoted Kalætron Integral SIGINT suite by Hensoldt which will probably be carried out by Lufthansa Technik.
In response to flight monitoring, the plane, registration N637HN, arrived in Hamburg immediately from the Bombardier Flight Check Middle (BFTC) in Wichita, Kansas. Whereas there, the jet underwent the required airframe modifications, which embody new fairings put in on the edges and under the fuselage, and the following trial flights.
The photographs of N637HN had been captured by aviation photographer Niclas Rebbelmund, who kindly allowed us to incorporate them on this article, and revealed them on his Fb and Instagram pages, ‘NJPR Pictures’ and ‘niclashco’, respectively.
Nicht besonders überraschend, aber die neuen PEGASUS-Flugzeuge scheinen für das Taktische Luftwaffengeschwader 51 in Jagel vorgesehen zu sein. pic.twitter.com/egnuHeqjIL
— Der Aktenfresser (@DerAktenfresser) December 6, 2025
PEGASUS SIGINT plane journey
The jet arrived in Hamburg is one in all three plane for use by the Luftwaffe (German Air Drive) sooner or later to fill the hole left by the retirement of the Breguet BR1150 Atlantic plane in 2010. This system is a collaborative effort between Bombardier Protection, Lufthansa Technik and Hensoldt, and includes Lufthansa procuring the three plane from Bombardier, modifying the airframe, conducting flight testing at BFTC, and integrating Hensoldt’s Kalætron Integral ELINT/SIGINT/COMINT suite in Germany.
In response to Luftarhtnews & Planespotting aus Hamburg, N637HN, which as we talked about is a Bombardier World 6500 plane, had left Hamburg airport on Apr. 6, 2024, to obtain the sequence of exterior modifications. On Mar. 19, 2024, N637HN, was additionally photographed at Hamburg in a completely white paint scheme forward of the departure.
LPaH reported on the time that the World 6500 had arrived at Lufthansa Technik (LHT) Hamburg facility on Aug. 23, 2021, from the Bombardier facility in Toronto, Canada, flying with the registration C-GOMN. LHT then on Oct. 23, 2024, introduced the primary flight of the plane from Wichita, which probably may very well be N637HN itself.
Future
A Lufthansa Technik spokesperson advised Hartpunkt in an August 2025 report that two of the three plane which have already been “externally modified” had been on the time present process flight testing at Wichita’s amenities. This has now led as much as the PEGASUS N637HN returning to Hamburg on Dec. 4.
N637HN touched down on runway 23, earlier than taxiing to the Lufthansa Technik’s hangar. The plane nonetheless bears the “experimental” marking on the fuselage and, following the pending Hensoldt’s Kalætron Integral SIGINT suite integration, it ought to obtain Luftwaffe insignia. LPaH nevertheless pointed to the brand of the Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann” already current on the entrance fuselage.
The jet’s future registration is anticipated to be 14+20 and it might be primarily based in northern Germany, however the Bundeswehr is but to resolve whether or not to assign it to Hohn Air Base or Jagel Air Base. This airframe is anticipated to be delivered to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) by 2027, with the opposite plane following swimsuit.
“Along with the system integration of PEGASUS, Lufthansa Technik Protection can be liable for regulatory certification on the full plane stage. The design work for integrating the mission system, the extra civil and army avionics programs, and the plane cabin has already been accomplished. Manufacturing of the inside parts has additionally begun to make sure that they are often put in instantly upon the plane’s arrival on the Particular Mission Plane Competence Middle in Hamburg,” Hartpunkt talked about.
Hartpunkt has additionally beforehand reported, quoting unnamed sources within the Bundeswehr, that Berlin has an precise want for an extra three to 6 such programs.
Kalætron Integral and Germany’s SIGINT functionality
Kalætron Integral is an airborne SIGINT answer that gives a “complete strategic asset for wide-area reconnaissance, mastering the challenges posed by in the present day’s electromagnetic spectrum,” says Hensoldt. The system integrates intelligence gathered from each radar indicators (ELINT) and communication indicators (COMINT) in a single bundle which covers the complete electromagnetic spectrum with steady frequency protection from lower than 30 MHz to 40 GHz.
Hensoldt additionally says on its web site that Kalætron options extremely automated workflows powered by machine studying and AI algorithms, which speed up the decision-making whereas decreasing the workload of operators. This enables one to acquire a continuously evolving view of the electromagnetic order of battle, combining insights from numerous platforms in all domains right into a single intelligence image.
In my pleasure at listening to much more #Germany defence information in the present day, I jumped the gun with my earlier pronouncement on #PEGASUS first flight (all the time finest to reveal an embargo at the beginning of the decision somewhat than the tip, I discover)… 1/6 pic.twitter.com/pGSekXmJwn
— Gareth Jennings (@GarethJennings3) October 23, 2024
The Kalætron Integral system was fielded by Hensoldt after Germany initiated the PEGASUS program in 2020. This adopted the cancellation of the RQ-4E Euro Hawk unmanned ISR program with a single plane, and later dropping, upon briefly contemplating, the MQ-4C Triton.
The mixture of superior altitude and lengthy vary allows the Kalætron Integral system to cowl huge areas at a secure distance from potential threats, says the producer, with a detection vary of about 400 km. The web site additional states the system options “distinctive accuracy, excessive sensitivity, a broad frequency vary and prolonged time on station,” with out delving into particulars.
Mixed with Germany’s new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare’s natural Digital Assist Measures (ESM) functionality, the PEGASUS will go a good distance in swooping up digital emissions and constructing an digital order of battle within the North Sea and Baltic Seas. These areas are seeing persistent and growing Russian Naval, tactical and strategic aviation actions.
Particular because of Niclas Rebbelmund for permitting us to make use of his footage. Ensure that to observe him on Fb and Instagram for extra!
