Multirole flight management for the E-8C Joint STARS aircraft

The integration of the Collins FMS-800 into the USAF/Grumman E-8C Joint STARS aircraft provides great flexibility for mission and nonmission operations. The E-8C incorporates a multirole flight management system (FMS) which enables the flight crew to be functionally integrated with the primary mission crew and also supports reduced-crew operations for global support and ferry missions. The system incorporates dual GPS-INS (Global Positioning System/inertial navigation system) integrated navigation, automated flight planning, guidance, cockpit management, and extensive support of mission crew coordination and automatic in-flight reconfiguration. For primary surveillance and targeting missions, the FMS supports the preplanned and impromptu Joint STARS flight objectives. For nonprimary mission operations with a reduced flight crew, the FMS operates independently of the prime mission equipment to enable global ferry flights, operations in the National Airspace System, and other support missions with reduced-crew workload through automation