ASTi recently received an order for a total of nine (9) systems from L-3 Communications' Link Simulation & Training division. These systems will be used by the Naval Air Systems Command Training Systems Division (NAVAIR TSD) for F/A-18C Distributed Mission Training (DMT) training systems, and will be installed at NAS Lemoore, CA. A total of 19 ASTi systems have been ordered for use in the NAVAIR F/A-18C DMT program, part of the Navy's Aviation Simulation Master Plan.

ASTi's Digital Audio Communication Systems (DACS) will supply high-fidelity HLA radio communications, electronic warfare suite, navigational aides suite, and environmental cueing audio. ASTi Telestra platforms will provide HLA-compatibility for the simulated radio environment, and allow centralized, remote management of the various DACS computers.

ASTi has also received orders for spare DACS systems directly from NAVAIR TSD in Orlando, FL to supplement the original 10-system shipment (July 2003). The systems are configured to provide the complete HLA-compliant communications and aural cue environment for existing F/A-18 simulators, and will be deployed to NAS Lemoore, CA; NAF Atsugi, Japan; and MCAS Beaufort, SC.

ASTi shipped a Digital Audio Communications System (DACS) and operator station peripherals to the U.S. Army Battle Command Battle Lab (BCBL), Ft. Gordon, GA. Additionally, BCBL personnel recently completed a three-day training course at ASTi's Herndon, VA facility. This contract represents ASTi's latest contribution to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's (TRADOC) ongoing Future Combat Systems (FCS) research and evaluation initiative.

The DACS system provides eight DIS radios, supports four operator positions, and will be used to network communications between BCBL and previously-deployed ASTi equipment at the Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Lab (UAMBL) at Ft. Knox, KY.

With this latest shipment, Ft. Gordon joins the growing list of TRADOC Battle Labs that rely on ASTi hardware and software to seamlessly integrate simulated radio communications in a single, distributed network radio environment. To learn more about ASTi's support of various TRADOC exercises, please see:

• "US Army TRADOC Experiment"
• "Dismounted Infantry Training Employs ASTi Communications"
• "TRADOC Future Combat Systems Comms"

Flight Safety International (FSI) has placed an order for an ASTi Digital Audio Communications System (DACS) for use in a CV-22 Flight Training Device (FTD) to be installed at the USAF 19th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, FL. The DACS will provide a complete communications and environmental sound cueing environment for the CV-22 FTD. This order marks the seventh ASTi system ordered in support of the V-22 program. Previously-shipped systems include:

• Three MV-22 Full Flight Simulators (FFS): MCAS New River, NC
• One MV-22 FTD: MCAS New River, NC
• One CV-22 FFS: Kirtland AFB, NM
• One CV-22 FTD: Kirtland AFB, NM

As part of this contract, ASTi will provide FSI with engineering design services to implement communications system upgrades ensuring conformance with the latest aircraft baseline. One planned upgrade includes the addition of voice relay links through pairs of simulated AN/ARC-210 radios.

ASTi recently delivered additional Tactical Operations Center (TOC) communications simulation stations to the Aviation Warfighting Simulation Center (AWSC) at Ft. Rucker, AL. ASTi continues to support of the expansion of the AWSC as it grows to meet the requirements of the Army's Flight School XXI, Iraq Aviation Training exercises (IATX) and other key training programs.

This latest delivery brings the total number of ASTi TOC operator stations at the AWSC to 24. Each TOC station features ASTi's simulated SINCGARS radio panel, providing operators with a high-fidelity user interface to ASTi's simulated radio communications environment. The panels are software pre-configurable (for filling virtual frequencies, crypto keys and frequency hopsets), facilitating easy training exercise setup.