July 25, 2006 – In mid-August, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PAARNG)—with support from US Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) and the US Army National Simulation Center (NCS)—will install a large scale ASTi Synapse communications system into their Battle Command Training Center (BCTC) at Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA. The new system provides the Army National Guard with the capability to route voice traffic between live combat net radios operating in the maneuver field and guardsmen and support staff operating ASTi virtual radio workstations in the BCTC. The ASTi system is also capable of inter-communications with remote networked sites, to support distributed military training exercises.

The ASTi system comprises a series of ten (10) ASTi Synapse Radio-Network bridges and Synapse Workstations connected to an IP network. Ft. Indiantown Gap's ASTi system provides the capability to link as many as sixteen (16) live SINCGARS frequency-hopping radio channels to virtual network channels, allowing intercommunication with 64 battlestaff operators. These operator locations are dispersed throughout the BCTC, and include:

• Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation (JCATS) simulation response cells
• Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) simulation response cells
• After Action Review (AAR) facilities
• Brigade Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs)
• Battalion TOCs
• Tech Control
• Exercise Control (EXCON)
• Higher Control (HICON)

Additional virtual intercom channels are available for battlestaff point-to-point or workgroup communications. More links can be established with Synapse nodes connected to the wide area network.

The Army National Guard will also install an ASTi Telestra Remote Management System (RMS). With Telestra RMS and a standard web browser, system administrators at Ft. Indiantown Gap can monitor and manage local and networked ASTi resources (equipment, software, simulation models), ranging from stand-alone to multi-site, exercise-wide configurations.

ASTi provided a complete customer support package to the Army National Guard, including: on-site installation and testing services, on-site training courses for system administrators and battlestaff and a technical support contract for ongoing helpdesk assistance.

ASTi has been shipping Synapse live-to-virtual communications systems since 1999.

For more information, please visit:
Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center