August 26, 2003 – An extensive ASTi simulated communications system was recently installed at the U.S. Army Simulation Center's Dismounted Battlespace Battle Lab (DBBL) at Ft. Benning, GA. ASTi's communications environment provides 188 full-fidelity simulated radios and supports 185 operator positions distributed throughout three warehouse-sized buildings covering an area roughly equivalent to one city block.

The DBBL integrates dismounted infantry onto the virtual battlefield to enhance warfighting capabilities. The lab includes virtual, constructive and instrumented live facilities to teach tactics & procedures, perform weapons training & systems analysis, and conduct mission rehearsals.

The ASTi communications environment features high-fidelity radio simulation with crypto and frequency hopping, and is AVCATT-compatible. DBBL's application-specific software models provide reconfigurable communications functionality for several facilities, including: full-immersion soldier simulators (dubbed the "Squad Synthetic Environment"), Blue Forces, command center, battlemaster stations and live radio bridging.

The ASTi system at DBBL was used immediately following installation for an Urban Concept Exploration Program (CEP) experiment to provide communications for tactical command & control and administration. It also recently provided communications during a live, constructive, virtual experiment conducted at DBBL and the McKenna Instrumented MOUT (Military Operations on Urban Terrain) site, also at Ft. Benning. An ASTi Synapse system provided network communications links between soldiers in the simulation lab and soldiers operating live SINCGARS radios in remote areas of the MOUT training site.

This order also highlights ASTi's commitment to customer service. ASTi Program Engineers were involved in model development, and supplied on-site system integration & validation support. Further, ASTi hosted two Model Builder training courses for U.S. Army engineers at its Herndon, VA facility.

ASTi is the networked radio simulation solution provider of choice at US Army TRADOC Battle Labs. In addition to Ft. Benning, ASTi systems are used at: Ft. Knox, KY; Ft. Rucker, AL; Ft. Sill, OK; and Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

For more information, please see:
"Dismounted Infantry Takes the Virtual High Ground", Military Training Technology article about the Ft. Benning Simulation Lab.