ASTi announced today that their Synapse Radio-Data Network Bridge product successfully completed inter-operability testing with military radio transceiver models PRC-117C and PRC-117F. Product test trials were conducted at ASTi's Herndon, VA facility and at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Ft. Polk, LA.

Synapse was previously proven inter-operable with the SINCGARS family of radios (nomenclature RT-1523, SIP and ASIP versions). The PRC-117 and SINCGARS field radios are the ground-air communications lifeblood of the Army, Marines, Special Operations Forces, Air Force tactical air controllers and others.

ASTi's Synapse Radio-Data Network Bridge is a voice communications system that bridges live radio audio traffic to IP data networks. The ability to transport live radio traffic over data networks using IP packets has many powerful benefits:

• Extends of radio traffic between geographically distant sites
  
  
• Creates communications links between operators with live radios and those with virtual radios
  
  
• Allows recording (packet logging) of time-stamped live radio traffic for after-action-review
  
  
• Addition of the PRC-117 family to the list of compatible radios means that it is now possible to use Synapse to bridge voice communications between incompatible radios. For example, voice traffic from a SINCGARS operating in the VHF-band can be bridged through Synapse to a PRC-117 operating in the SATCOM-band.
  
  
• The PRC-117 is a multi-mode radio transceiver: VHF Low, SINCGARS ECCM, VHF High, UHF, HAVEQUICK I / II ECCM, SATCOM. It is inter-operable with a wide array of radios.

ASTi recently delivered twenty (20) sets of Digital Audio Communications Systems (DACS) and Telestra High Level Architecture (HLA) systems which will be integrated into high-fidelity F/A-18 simulators in the United States and Australia, and CF-18 simulators in Canada. The simulators will support networked, combined, joint and team training exercises ranging from basic stand-alone missions to full-theater warfare.

ASTi's DACS supplies high-fidelity simulated radio communications, electronic warfare & navigational aides suites, and environmental cueing audio. ASTi Telestra platforms provide HLA-compatibility for the simulated radio environment, and allow centralized, remote management of the various DACS computers.

Installation sites include:

Canadian Air Force, CF-18, Advanced Distributed Combat Training System (ADCTS)

• Six (6) CF-18 Air Combat Emulators (ACES)
• Ten (10) CF-18 Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS)-equipped Part Task Trainers

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), F/A-18, Hornet Aircrew Training System (HACTS)

• Three (3) F/A-18 Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs)

United States Navy, F/A-18 DMT, Naval Aviation Simulation Master Plan (NASMP*)

• One (1) F/A-18C Part Task Trainer
• This is ASTi's third follow-on F/A-18 order for the NASMP program.

ASTi has provided the simulated communications and aural cue subsystems for the Hornet training program since 1989.

*The NASMP is a U.S. Navy initiative to consolidate all major aviation training programs, linking them into an effective, networked training environment. The NASMP's planning and acquisition phases are being performed by Naval Aviation Training Systems (PMA205), NAVAIR-TSD Orlando, and NAVAIR (NAWCAD) Pax River. For more information on the NASMP, please see:
NAVAIR Orlando: High Level Architecture (HLA) Program
NAVAIR Orlando: Overview