The F/A-18A Automatic Carrier Landing System integrates the aircraft flight control system, throttle control system, inertial navigation sensors, and shipboard SPN-42 tracking radar and computer system to achieve fully automatic approach control to the carrier deck in all weather conditions. Accurate touchdown position and sink rate must be achieved under varying conditions of visibility, deck motion, air turbulence, and ship air wake downdraft. Design analysis of this integrated digital control system is described, including digital synthesis methods used and projected performance under wind and deck motion conditions, two shipboard trials have verified the high touchdown accuracy potential of the system, resulting in along-deck touchdown dispersion of only 19 ft for 91 automatic landings.