The U.S. Army Simulation Center's Dismounted Battlespace Battle Lab (DBBL) at Ft. Benning, GA utilizes an extensive ASTi system to provide a comprehensive simulated communications environment for battle command and control and exercise coordination. The ASTi system provides the inter-communications that are key to integrating complex configurations of virtual, constructive and live elements participating in DBBL experiments and exercises.

To say that the ASTi communications system installed at the DBBL is "large-scale" is an understatement. This system provides the capability to distribute vast amounts of networked radio and intercom traffic to 185 operator positions, situated throughout three warehouse-sized buildings covering an area roughly equivalent to one city block.

The system was pre-configured by ASTi to provide several types of operator communications stations with varying and re-configurable communications capabilities.

The operator comms stations share these common features:

• Digitally distributed audio and control interfaces. ASTi's network-centric approach solves the problem by distributing voice and control signals throughout this sprawling facility entirely in the digital domain over standard network cables, to RIU digital signal processing modules located at the operator consoles. This all-digital approach avoids the crosstalk and noise problems associated with systems requiring long analog audio cable runs from centralized distribution points.
  
  
• Reconfigurable Communications Environment: The system is completely software reconfigurable, from the exercise level to the operator and communications channel levels.
  
  
• Integrated Control Interfaces: The system includes plug and play connections for discrete push-to-transmit switches and serial data Handheld Terminals (HHTs). Operators use these basic communications controls devices to select radio and intercom channels, adjust volumes and key transmissions.

For simplicity of operation, the customer initially selected a radio configuration that provides basic, half-duplex, frequency matching performance. In the future, the customer has the option of enabling a host of additional built-in features, including simulated: embedded radio automation tones, crypto, frequency hopping, ranging and terrain propagation effects, tactical data links and much more.

The system is also extensively used for local and wide area voice communications networking with other military sites during joint exercises. ASTi is the radio simulation solution provider of choice at all of the US Army TRADOC Battle Labs. In additional to the Benning battle lab, ASTi systems are installed at: Ft. Knox, KY; Ft. Rucker, AL; Ft. Sill, OK; and Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

Ft Benning also uses ASTi's Synapse Radio - Data Network Bridge product to provide network communications links between the virtual and constructive operators at the DBBL and soldiers operating live SINCGARS radios at sites such as the Ft Benning McKenna MOUT Site).

The following sections provide descriptions of each operator station type:

• Dismounted Infantry Simulators
• Constructive Simulators
• Company Commander
• Battlemaster