Operation Pegasus

The UK is about to run Exercise Pegasus — its first full-scale pandemic simulation in nearly a decade. Unlike the paper-based Exercise Cygnus in 2016, Pegasus is built around modern technology. Real NHS GP data is being anonymised and modelled through OpenSAFELY to stress-test how a new virus would impact vulnerable groups. Command software will simulate nationwide surges, forcing Integrated Care Boards, hospitals, and Local Resilience Forums to share data in real time.

Pegasus isn’t just about doctors and ministers in a room. It’s about seeing whether digital logistics systems can move PPE, antivirals, and vaccines across the UK at speed; whether AI-driven scenario modelling can give leaders enough lead-time to act; whether communications pipelines can keep public dashboards accurate during a data fog.

For investors, the real story here is how much health resilience has become a technology challenge. Pegasus is a dry run for the algorithms, logistics platforms, and data science tools t…