July 2, 2004 – ASTi communications systems continue to play a critical role in the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) program. JNTC is one of the pillars of the Department of Defense's training transformation plan, with an ultimate goal of providing training, experimentation, testing and mission rehearsal capabilities for any joint services, commands, and agencies connected to a global, persistent network.

Our virtual radio system provides the overwhelming majority of the communications backbone for the entire JNTC network.

One interesting aspect of the JNTC initiative is that, while ASTi has shipped new systems in support of the program, most of the participating sites have used our systems for years. Because our Model Builder software was designed specifically for networked communications, these sites are now simply taking advantage of existing functionality inside previously-deployed DACS systems.

ASTi systems are key components in all three of the JNTC program training types:

Live: ASTi systems bridge live communications with virtual radios on the simulation network. This allows real military personnel and warfare systems operating in a real environment to communicate and interact with simulated forces. Bridged comms include: ground-based SINCGARS, PRC-117 and KG-58, and a variety of airborne and shipboard comms.

Virtual: ASTi systems are embedded in a wide variety of virtual simulators participating in JNTC events:

• Aircraft: AH-64A, UH-60, JSTARS, EP-3, H-60 (SOF), MH-53 (SOF), AC-130U (SOF)
• Ships: AEGIS Sim
• Ground Forces: Squad Synthetic Environment

Constructive: ASTi communications link operators in numerous constructive simulation (wargaming) facilities.

During a January event (Western Range Complex Horizontal Interoperability Event), ASTi systems provided comms for a variety of fixed- and rotary-wing flight simulators, digital Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs), simulated special operations forces, and other virtual training systems. All of these were linked to JNTC's global communications infrastructure through Model Builder's virtual radio networking. Our platforms also provided networked comms to constructive elements at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and Hurlburt Field, FL as well as communications management capabilities to the Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center (JTASC) in Suffolk, VA.

The recently-completed Combined Joint Task Force Exercise 04-2 (CJTFEX 04-2, June 2004) included the following ASTi-equipped sites:

• USJFCOM Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC), VA
• NAS Patuxent River, MD
• Langley AFB, VA
• NAVSEA Dam Neck, VA
• Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
• MCAS Cherry Point, NC
• Camp Lejeune MCB, NC
• Shaw AFB, SC (AAMDC)
• Hurlburt Field, FL (19th SOS, 505EXS)
• Eglin AFB, FL
• MacDill AFB, FL
• Ft. Bliss, TX
• Kirtland AFB, NM (DMOC)
• NAS Fallon, NV

ASTi is also providing engineering services to the Joint Forces Command, including:

• Participating in event planning conferences
• Conducting site surveys
• Furnishing on-demand technical assistance & event preparations through execution