This paper focused on the top-level design of the automatic carrier landing system. The carrier platform and carrier-based aircraft landing technology in China have been mature and stable now, in this case, to develop the automatic carrier landing system and to put it into use will greatly enhance the operational capability of the aircraft carrier. In this paper, based on the researches related on automatic carrier landing system that the United States has been proven, the needs of carrier-based aircraft automatic landing technology is analyzed, then the top-level research and design for the system functions and composition are made based on the system requirements. The contents of this paper will provide a reference for the subsequent development of the automatic landing system.