Aircraft Carrier-based Precision Ship-Relative Navigation Guidance for Aircraft Landing under Emissions Control Conditions

This research will show how data-capable laser communication retro-reflectors integrated with multispectral image processing can provide extreme reliability positioning suitable for full time automatic landing aboard ship of piloted fixed wing aircraft. The positioning system supports the SALRS long-term objective to reduce or eliminate pilot training to perform manual landing aboard ship including recurrent training. All landings aboard ship would be automatic, all the time, as was originally intended in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. An interim step will support full automatic landing in zero visibility conditions typical of dense fog and sand storms. Future capabilities would include shallow or flared landings aboard ship.