The Air Force Institute of Technology’s Applied Research Center for Hypersonics, in partnership with the High Speed Systems Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Aerospace Systems Directorate, conducted an introductory course on selected hypersonic disciplines and fundamentals on 18-21 June 2024. (Contributed photo)
The Air Force Institute of Technology’s Applied Research Center for Hypersonics, in partnership with the High Speed Systems Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Aerospace Systems Directorate, conducted an introductory course on selected hypersonic disciplines and fundamentals on 18-21 June 2024.
“AFIT provides a critical function to educate our science and technology workforce,” said Col. Aaron Tucker, chief, AFRL High Speed Systems Division. “AFRL’s mission to advance the state of the art to transition hypersonic capability to the warfighter depends on a highly skilled and educated workforce. I appreciate AFIT leading the short course to provide an excellent level of understanding of the highly integrated nature of hypersonics.”
According to the 2022 National Defense Strategy, the development of current and emerging hypersonic missile capabilities is reshaping traditional air and missile defense roles. Building a workforce proficient in hypersonics is crucial for the Air Force to leverage these transformative technologies and enhance mission effectiveness in the context of Great Power Competition.
First offered in 2017, the Introduction to Hypersonics course aims to provide Air Force employees, interns, and contractors with a foundational understanding of hypersonic principles. Over the course of three days, 25 subject matter experts delivered presentations covering a wide array of specialized topics in hypersonic science and technology, including aero propulsion, material structures, flight dynamics, and experimentation.
“What makes this course unique from other short courses in hypersonics is our approach of recruiting multiple subject matter experts to deliver talks as opposed to relying on a single instructor for the entire duration,” said Dr. José Camberos, AFIT associate professor of aerospace engineering and director, Applied Research Center for Hypersonics.
The course attracted over 150 participants from various organizations, including AFRL, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and other organizations across the Department of Defense.
“A significant portion of this year’s attendees were from the DOD Joint Hypersonics Transition Office summer internship program that we have at AFIT,” Camberos said. “This gave them the opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of subject matter experts across all the different disciplines. They also get a chance to network with each other as well. I see this as being fundamental to the ARCH mission, which is education and work force development.”
Lt. Col. Robert MacDermott, assistant professor of astronautical engineering and ARCH deputy director, noted that many interns are at an early stage in their academic careers and may not yet be familiar with hypersonic principles.
“While they might not fully grasp all the concepts presented in the course, they can understand the applications and potential of hypersonics,” MacDermott said. “Our goal is to spark interest and curiosity about hypersonics, which will inspire them. When they are exposed to it later in their career, they will have a foundational understanding and know where to seek further information.”
Camberos emphasized that the key takeaway for participants is that hypersonics is an exciting and challenging field with ample research opportunities.
“Hypersonic flight is fundamentally different from subsonic and supersonic flight,” MacDermott added. “Just like I can’t take my Cessna and fly it like a fighter jet, you can’t take a fighter jet and fly it at hypersonic speeds. Part of what we want them to take away is understanding these fundamental differences is crucial for technology development.”
Participants also had the opportunity to tour AFIT’s high-speed wind tunnels, AFRL’s Aerospace Systems Directorate’s facilities and the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force’s X-plane collection.
Students from the Air Force Institute of
Technology’s Applied Research Center for Hypersonics introductory course on
selected hypersonic disciplines and fundamentals tour the National Museum of
the U.S. Air Force 18-21 June 2024, to see the U.S. Air Force’s X-plane
collection. (Contributed photo)
The course received positive feedback, with participants rating it 8.9 out of 10. One participant commented, “I liked that the whole, broad hypersonic challenge was covered without, in general, getting too bogged down in the weeds. I appreciated the coverage of top technical challenges and lessons learned.”
Another participant noted, “I enjoyed the broad range of topics covered in this course and the blend of technical research and application. I felt the course did a great job of laying out the big problems/roadblocks that needed worked on.”
“A special thanks is extended to the entire team that brought this short course together,” said Dr. Robert Baurle, senior scientist, hypersonics, AFRL Aerospace Systems Directorate. “Hypersonics is a niche area, and this short course offers a unique venue for students to become familiar with the distinct technical challenges associated with hypersonic systems.”
AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management offers a part-time graduate certificate program in hypersonic flight that can serve as a next step in credentialing. The program is designed to produce graduates capable of understanding, evaluating, and communicating the unique complexities of the hypersonic flight environment. The program is open to active duty and civilian DOD employees with a traditional engineering background.
The next Introduction to Hypersonics course is scheduled for 16-20 June 2025. For more information about the course or the Applied Research Center for Hypersonics, please email hypersonics@afit.edu.
