Exercise Pegasus
UK's largest pandemic-scenario exercise, run during the 2025-26 reporting year.
Last refreshed: 21 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
The UK just ran its largest-ever pandemic drill; why won't the government say what happened?
Timeline for Exercise Pegasus
Ran during the reporting year as the UK's largest pandemic-scenario exercise
Pandemics and Biosecurity: Britain edges DNA screening into lawBackground
The UK Biological Security Strategy's 14 July implementation report confirmed Exercise Pegasus, which it describes as the largest pandemic-scenario exercise in British history, had run during the 2025-26 reporting year. The same report set out £1.83bn for a network of national biosecurity centres, including Dstl Porton Down, Weybridge and Harwell.
Exercise Pegasus is the UK Government's flagship pandemic-preparedness exercise, used to test cross-departmental response to a large-scale biological emergency. Beyond confirming that it ran, the government's public report gives no further detail on Pegasus's scenario, scale, or findings.
Has the government published Exercise Pegasus's scenario or findings?
When did Exercise Pegasus take place?
What is Exercise Pegasus?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 21 July 2026. Editorial standards.