J.F. Taylor, Inc. selected ASTi to provide communication and aural cueing simulation systems for an MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter trainer to be delivered to NAVAIR Training Systems Division (TSD). Sikorsky's MH-60R "Strikehawk" is the flagship of the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Master Plan. It will replace the Navy's current fleet of SH-60B/F Seahawk helicopters, and includes significant upgrades to avionics, weapons and defensive systems.

The MH-60R simulator comprises an Operational Flight Trainer (OFT), Weapons Tactics Trainer (WTT) and instructor station. The OFT and WTT elements can operate individually, or in "combined" mode to simulate the whole aircraft. ASTi will provide detailed modeling of the aircraft communication systems including a number of multi-function radios such as the AN/ARC-210. High-fidelity sonar audio will also be distributed to all operator positions. The ASTi system features 14 stereo operator/instructor stations, 10 aural cue channels, and multiple channels for analog audio I/O.

More information:
MH-60R: Lockheed Martin System Solutions
Sikorsky MH-60R
Navy Helicopter Master Plan

ASTi recently shipped four Synapse systems and one Digital Audio Communication Systems (DACS) platform to Anteon Corp. (Orlando, FL) to be delivered to the U.S. Army's Battle Command Training Center (BCTC) at Ft. Hood, TX.

The Synapse workstations will supplement the previously-installed ASTi TOC system which provides 85 operator positions, as well as enhancing the BCTC's capability to interact with live radios on the simulation network.

The DACS system will be used to bridge the TOC/Synapse intercom traffic with DIS radio communications from numerous CCTT training devices, also installed at Ft. Hood. The CCTT bridge DACS offers a lower-cost alternative to upgrading the existing comms infrastructure to use CCTT-compatible DIS radios.

The U.S. Air Force Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC, formerly TACCSF) at Kirtland AFB, NM recently received shipment of two ASTi DACS systems for a unique radio simulation application. The DACS platforms interface to HYX-57 wireline adapters connected to AN/TYQ-23 Modular Control Equipment (MCE) Operations Module (OM) vehicles. This connection allows simulated radio and voice traffic on the DIS network to be supplied to the vehicles as if it originated from external, remote radios.

ASTi shipped two DACS systems to Fidelity Technologies Corp. (Reading, PA) to provide communication capabilities for a GUARDFIST II forward artillery operator trainer. According to their website, "GUARDFIST II simulation training systems use realistic, interactive battlefield scenarios to provide procedural and sustainment indirect fire mission training to field artillery forward observers."

In the third quarter of 2003, ASTi delivered a total of 25 DACS to SAIC (Sterling, VA) and L-3 Communications (Arlington, TX) in support of ongoing USAF F-16 training programs. The DACS platforms will provide communications & environmental audio simulation and debrief capability to multiple Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs) and Mission Training Center (MTC) facilities.