ASTi has shipped two Synapse systems to Los Angeles AFB 61st Air Base Group Civil Engineering (CE) Unit for a Readiness and Emergency Response application. These systems will be installed in mobile communications vehicles; this is a real-world, critical comms application outside the training and simulation industry. According to their website, the CE Unit "manages and administers the base disaster preparedness office to minimize the loss of operational capability caused by wartime contingencies and peacetime disaster operations".

The Synapse platforms provide networked communications systems for three vehicles, each with multiple operators. They will interface with a satellite-based IP network, which—unlike currently-used terrestrial cell phones and mobile VHF radios—cannot be disrupted by earthquakes. ASTi's Synapse product was selected for this application because of its compact size, ease of operation, minimal required training, and commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) technology for quick delivery.

ASTi equipment provided simulated radio communications for a recent US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) virtual warfighting experiment, conducted in May, 2003. The experiment contributed to the research and integration phase of the TRADOC Future Combat Systems (FCS) initiative.

ASTi DACS systems deployed at networked sites provided communications channels for battlefield command and control and administrative control. Five TRADOC Battle Labs participated in the experiment, including: the Unit of Action Maneuver (Ft. Knox, KY), Air Maneuver (Ft. Rucker, AL), Dismounted Battlespace (Ft. Benning, GA), Depth & Simultaneous Attack (Ft. Sill, OK) and Battle Command (Ft. Leavenworth, KS) Battle Labs.

For more information, please see this Federal Computer Week article.

ASTi recently delivered a DACS system to MIT's Lincoln Laboratory in support of the USAF's Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft-Experimental (MC2A-X Paul Revere) testbed. This new system provides eight channels of intercom voice traffic for lab communications, and communications model development capabilities in support of the 3 existing DACS platforms installed aboard the aircraft.

The Air Force uses the MC2A-X to test various airborne command, control and battle management capabilities and scenarios. The final MC2A configuration will have functionality similar to the E-3 AWACS and JSTARS' E-8C aircraft.

For more information, please see this Air Force Magazine article.

EER Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of L-3 Communications, recently purchased an ASTi DACS system for installation onto one of a series of AV-8B Maintenance Trainers that are to be upgraded for Naval Air Training Systems Division. The primary use of the modified training devices will be to teach troubleshooting skills necessary to maintain AV-8B Harrier II Plus systems. At least seven other AV-8B trainers already feature ASTi equipment.