Under contract with L3 Technologies, Advanced Simulation Technology inc. (ASTi) recently provided voice communication equipment for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's Secure Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) Advanced Training Environment (SLATE) project. SLATE develops new technologies that closely integrate live aircraft, pilots in simulators and computer-generated forces, increasing the realism and complexity of pilot training.
A new training radio with high-throughput waveform exchanges data between ground-based virtual (V) and ground- or air-based constructive (C) training components to systems on live (L) aircraft. This data allows for live participants to train and hone their skills in ways that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. Live aircraft appear to sense, target, and shoot at VC players as if they were real participants on the training range.
ASTi's Voisus system—installed at Nellis AFB's Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR)—provides a variety of capabilities to SLATE. One Voisus server provides a fully digital Radio-over-IP (RoIP) connection to the Rockwell Collins live radios, which are compatible with the ED-137 standard. These live radios are scattered across mountain peaks at Nellis hundreds of miles away from the server installation. This connection provides receive/transmit digital audio and remote radio control to operators on the unclassified network.
Another Voisus server links unclassified RF voice traffic with four classified LVC network voice domains for seamless cross-domain (CDS) compatibility. This connection ties together aircraft training at the live range and virtual/constructive network assets. Voisus clients running on DISA Secure Host Baseline (SHB) Windows PCs give NTTR operators access to all LVC communication assets.
Voisus's wide range of capabilities, flexibility and ease of use make it ideal for LVC programs across all DoD branches.
The Secure Live Virtual Constructive Advanced Training Environment LVC pod is attached to an F-16 with the 64th Aggressor Squadron during an Electromagnetic Interference/Compatibility test at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, during Phase I of the demonstration in June. (U.S. Air Force photo by William Graver)
About ASTi
Since 1989, ASTi has been at the forefront of voice communications innovation, delivering products that provide RoIP bridging, networked voice distribution and simulated radio communications. ASTi also provides battlefield and cockpit sound effects as well as artificially intelligent, voice-enabled virtual role-players enhancing live and simulation-based training programs. Since 1989, ASTi has fielded over 11,715 systems at more than 800 installation sites in the U.S. and 49 other countries. To learn more about ASTi, please visit www.asti-usa.com.
The Secure Live Virtual Constructive Advanced Training Environment LVC pod is attached to an F-16 with the 64th Aggressor Squadron during an Electromagnetic Interference/Compatibility test at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, during Phase I of the demonstration in June. (U.S. Air Force photo by William Graver)