Minister of the Interior Hermann draws positive conclusions from joint counter-terrorism exercise by police and armed forces – RoadTEX 2025 underscores importance of networked hazard prevention
At a time of increasing geopolitical tensions and growing hybrid threats, Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has drawn a positive interim conclusion from the two-day counter-terrorism exercise ‘RoadTEX 2025’ in the Upper Palatinate. The joint exercise involving the police, armed forces, fire brigade, rescue services and technical relief organisation is considered an important component of Bavaria’s security strategy.
Around 120 emergency personnel trained in Sulzbach-Rosenberg to coordinate their response to a terrorist attack on road traffic. The realistic scenario simulated an attack on a military convoy as part of a large-scale troop deployment to the eastern border of Slovakia. In addition to a vehicle attack, drone incidents, blockades and cyber attacks were also practised – threats that, when combined, reflect the complex situation of modern security risks.
‘In view of the current changes in the international security situation, it is particularly important that we are well prepared for the dangers,’ Herrmann explained after the first day of the exercise. ‘Joint exercises between the police and the armed forces are more important than ever in the fight against threats. They help to prepare our emergency services for various scenarios, improve cooperation and shorten response times in an emergency.’
Response to heightened security situation
Herrmann referred to the currently increased threat situation in Germany, particularly due to cyber attacks, hybrid threats and the increased need to protect critical infrastructure. He described the recent drone incidents – including those at Munich Airport and Erding Air Base – as ‘warning signs’.
‘On Tuesday, we established clear rules in the Bavarian Police Tasks Act for protection against drones. These now need to be quickly enshrined in law,’ emphasised the Minister of the Interior. ‘In addition, we will continuously modernise and expand the technical equipment of the Bavarian police – among other things by setting up a drone competence centre at the Defence Lab Erding.’
This is the state government’s response to new challenges arising from the interlinking of physical and digital means of attack. The aim is to further strengthen the operational capability of the security forces through the interaction of technology, tactics and communication.
Continuation of a successful series of exercises
‘RoadTEX 2025’ continues the proven TEX exercise series organised by the Bavarian Police and the Bavarian State Command. Previous formats such as GETEX 2017, BAYTEX 2018, NTEX 2020, GEOTEX 2021, LEADER-TEX 2022, AlpenTEX 2023 and, most recently, MainTEX 2024 have laid the foundation for close cooperation between security authorities.
‘We will continue our proven exercise format in the future in order to continuously prepare our emergency services for current scenarios in the best possible way,’ Herrmann announced.
Signal of readiness to act
With ‘RoadTEX 2025’, Bavaria is sending a clear signal: the Free State sees internal security as a joint task of the police, the armed forces and civil forces. Regular exercises are intended to ensure that emergency services can act in a networked, rapid and coordinated manner in the event of a crisis.
The exercise in the Upper Palatinate thus stands not only for operational preparation, but also for political determination to consistently guarantee the safety of citizens under the changed global political conditions.
