Upper Lusatia, Germany – Civilian emergency services and the German Armed Forces have successfully demonstrated their ability to work together during MURE26, a large-scale civil-military emergency response exercise held in Upper Lusatia. Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt, alongside senior representatives from federal, state and local government, visited the exercise site to review its outcomes and assess the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation.

Held on Wednesday, the exercise brought together nearly 700 emergency personnel to simulate a major railway accident. The scenario was designed to evaluate coordination between civilian emergency services and military forces, while testing the resilience and operational efficiency of communications systems and supporting infrastructure under emergency conditions. Throughout the exercise, participants relied exclusively on Germany's BOS digital radio network for operational communications.

The results of MURE26 were subsequently presented to the public, attracting more than 100 invited guests, including Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence Nils Hilmer, and a significant contingent of German media representatives.

During the visit, participating emergency services recreated key operational scenarios, offering guests a firsthand insight into the challenges of coordinating a large-scale emergency response. A dedicated exhibition also brought together the Federal Agency for Public Safety Digital Radio (BDBOS), the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), police and fire services, and the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), showcasing the communications systems and operational infrastructure supporting the successful execution of the exercise.

BDBOS President Dr. Christoph Hübner highlighted the strategic importance of next-generation broadband digital radio for public safety, emphasizing its potential to further enhance emergency response capabilities.

He noted that next-generation broadband digital radio will enable emergency services to respond more rapidly and effectively during major incidents, ultimately helping save lives. The exhibition also demonstrated selected broadband applications, including live video transmission, illustrating how enhanced data capabilities can complement existing mission-critical voice communications and support real-time situational awareness.

MURE26 underscored the importance of seamless cooperation between civilian and military organizations, supported by reliable communications infrastructure and coordinated emergency response procedures. The exercise also highlighted the evolving role of broadband communications in strengthening Germany's public safety and emergency response capabilities.

The organizers expressed their appreciation to all participating organizations and personnel, with particular recognition for the many dedicated volunteers and full-time professionals whose commitment extended from the preparation phase through to the successful execution of the exercise. Their cross-organizational collaboration was instrumental in making MURE26 a success.