Germany to Stage Civil-Military Critical Communications Exercise

Bundeswehr, federal, state and district authorities to test emergency communications interoperability and future broadband capability from 27 to 29 October

Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence, Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Saxon Ministry of the Interior and the district of Görlitz will jointly conduct a civil-military exercise focused on cross-agency operational communications in crisis situations, to be held from 27 to 29 October 2026 at the Oberlausitz military training area near Weißkeißel, Saxony.

The exercise sets out to answer a central question facing emergency response planning: how the Bundeswehr and civilian forces communicate with one another during an emergency, and how their respective communication systems interact. To test this, the organisations involved will stage a simulated damage scenario on the military training area, allowing participants to trial the technology and communication behaviour of emergency responders under realistic conditions. The exercise will also demonstrate how broadband operational communications could be used in the future.

The BOS digital radio network (Digitalfunk BOS), Germany's existing communications system for authorities and organisations with security responsibilities, is the main driver of the exercise, alongside Bundeswehr communication systems. BDBOS is supporting both the preparation and execution of the exercise and will play a key role in presenting the communication systems deployed.

Senior representatives of the lead federal ministries, the Free State of Saxony and the district of Görlitz will jointly visit the exercise on 29 October 2026, when the performance of the communication systems in use — and the need for resilient broadband communications for emergency responders — will be demonstrated. Media representatives have been invited to attend on this day, with press statements and an opportunity for follow-up questions planned. Accreditation for participation, including access to the military security area, will be issued following publication of a separate press invitation approximately two weeks ahead of the exercise.