ASTi continues its role as the US Army’s preferred solution provider for simulated radio communications systems. In 2005, the Army’s ASTi communications infrastructure continued to grow at a rapid rate, principally due to increased requirements for support of networked voice communications distributed to large, disperse groups of live, virtual and constructive simulation (LVC) elements for transformation programs such as Future Combat Systems (FCS) and the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC). We also witnessed a conspicuous increase in number of ASTi communications systems installed at Army test and evaluation ranges, meeting the increasing demand for inter-communication between the test ranges, experimentation labs, and training facilities. It’s clear the Army Transformation program, with its foundation of networked, modular systems-of-systems, has shifted the requirement for ASTi communications capability from “nice-to-have” to “must-have” status.

Another trend continued in 2005, as the Army continued to depend heavily on ASTi for technical and engineering support associated with exercise events to ensure mission success. A central reason for the upsurge in support activity to the Army is the increasing complexity and scale of simulated communications requirements. It’s also due to the fact that ASTi systems are now frequently procured directly by Army end-users, as opposed to the past, when almost all ASTi systems were procured and installed by a commercial system integrator. Key support services include: event requirements development, site survey, system installation & integration, onsite training, technical help desk, custom simulation model development.

To date in 2005, ASTi has provided 157 network communications systems to Army customers, including:

Synapse Live Radio-Network Bridges, large-scale Synapse Comms Workstations. Synapse links live FM traffic from rotational units in the maneuver field to the simulation network for inter-communications with virtual and constructive simulation sites.

• Ft Richardson Battle Command Training Center (BCTC)
• Ft Indiantown Gap: BCTC
• Schofield Barracks: Mission Support Training Facility (MSTF)
• Ft. Polk Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) BCTC, MOUT

ASTi comms systems are installed to meet the need for distributed, inter-operable voice comms, required by the transformation from a platform-centric test infrastructure to one supporting distributed testing. ASTi systems play a critical role in the 2005 Multi-Service Distributed Event (MSDE) joining Army test ranges with Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Joint Forces Command. We welcomed several new Army test range customers:

• White Sands Missile Range, Inter Range Control Center (IRCC)
• White Sands Missile Electronic Proving Grounds (EPG)
• Ft. Lewis EPG
• Redstone Arsenal Technical Test Center (RTTC)
• Redstone Arsenal Software Engineering Directorate (SED)

ASTi provides network comms and aural cues for the Army’s premier aviation training systems.

• Ft Rucker Air Warfare Simulation Center (AWSC), Flight School XXI, (120) Constructive Simulation Comms Stations
• Ft Rucker AWSC, Flight School XXI, Reconfigurable Collective Training Devices (RCTD)
• AVCATT-A Suites, Follow-on, Three Production Lots
• OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Simulator
• Special Operations Support: AH-64D Apache Longbow Controls and Displays Selected Task Trainer (LCDSTT)
• Special Operations Support: AH-64A Apache Helicopter Cockpit Weapons & Emergency Procedures Trainers (CWEPT)

ASTi equipment continues to provide simulated radio communications for US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Future Combat System (FCS) for virtual warfighting experiments. New / additional systems include:

• Ft Benning Dismounted Battlespace Battle Lab (DBBL)
• Ft Sill: JANUS
• Ft Knox: Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Lab (UAMBL)
• Ft Knox: Mounted Warfare Testbed (MWTB)
• Ft Lee: Combat Service Support (CSS) Battle Lab
• Multicell and Dismount Command and Control (M&D C2) Lab
• Ft. Sill: JFETS, Open Terrain Module
• Ft. Sill: JFETS, Close Air Support Trainer, w / SINCGARS panels

ASTi Synapse system, delivered to Ft Polk JRTC, under contract with the JFCOM Joint Training, Analysis, and Simulations Center (JTASC). This follow-on delivery significantly expands ASTi voice communications capabilities at the JRTC, bridging 40 additional channels of live military radio traffic to IP data networks such as the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) persistent network.