Hypersonic Training for Engineers, Managers and Analysts
The Tonex 2-Day Hypersonic Training for Engineers, Managers and Analysts delivers an intensive, multi-disciplinary overview of hypersonic flight systems, combining aerodynamics, propulsion, materials, guidance, and systems integration with mission-level and managerial perspectives.
Participants explore the design, testing, and operational aspects of hypersonic platforms including glide vehicles, cruise missiles, and reusable hypersonic aircraft. The course examines thermal, structural, and control challenges, propulsion technologies (scramjet, dual-mode ramjet, rocket-boosted systems), and defense implications in a contested environment.
Through expert-led sessions, modeling insights, and case studies, attendees will gain a deep understanding of hypersonic system design trade-offs, mission engineering, and technology readiness paths.
Key Outcomes
By completing this course, participants will:
- Master multidisciplinary principles of hypersonic flight and design integration.
- Gain insights into trade-offs affecting propulsion, materials, and control.
- Develop the ability to evaluate readiness, performance, and defense implications.
- Bridge technical understanding and managerial decision-making in hypersonic programs.
Learning Objectives
After completing this program, participants will be able to:
- Explain the physics and regimes of hypersonic flight and their impact on vehicle design.
- Understand aerothermodynamic principles, including shockwave formation and thermal loads.
- Evaluate propulsion architectures — scramjet, dual-mode ramjet, hybrid, and boost-glide systems.
- Assess materials and structural technologies for high-temperature environments.
- Analyze guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) challenges unique to hypersonic speeds.
- Model mission envelopes, maneuverability, and trajectory optimization principles.
- Understand testing, ground/flight validation, and digital engineering in hypersonic development.
- Appreciate programmatic and national security perspectives of hypersonic system integration.
Target Audience
This course is designed for:
- Aerospace and Defense Engineers in design, simulation, or integration roles
- Program and Project Managers overseeing advanced weapons or flight systems
- Systems Engineers and Analysts supporting modeling and evaluation
- Research Scientists exploring propulsion, thermal protection, or materials innovation
- Acquisition Officers, Policy Analysts, and Strategists involved in hypersonic programs
- Leaders and decision-makers requiring a comprehensive understanding of hypersonic capability development
Course Modules
Day 1 – Foundations and Engineering of Hypersonic Systems
Introduction to Hypersonics
- Hypersonic regimes: Mach 5–25 and flight envelopes
- Key differences between supersonic and hypersonic flows
- Global landscape: offensive and defensive hypersonic systems
Aerothermodynamics and Vehicle Design
- Shockwave structure and boundary layer interactions
- Stagnation heating, surface ablation, and cooling methods
- Aerodynamic shaping: waveriders, glide bodies, and lift-to-drag optimization
Propulsion Systems for Hypersonic Vehicles
- Rocket-boosted and air-breathing systems
- Ramjet vs. Scramjet vs. Dual-mode engines
- Combustion stability and mixing challenges
- Engine-ground testing and Mach number limitations
Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) and Materials
- Ablative, reusable, and actively cooled structures
- Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTC) and carbon-carbon composites
- Integration of TPS with aerodynamic and structural design
Exercise / Discussion
Trade-off analysis: propulsion type vs. mission profile vs. material selection
Day 2 – System Integration, Guidance, and Defense Perspectives
Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC)
- Inertial and satellite navigation under hypersonic conditions
- Flight control at high Mach: stability, control surfaces, and adaptive algorithms
- Data fusion, AI-assisted guidance, and trajectory prediction
Mission Design and Systems Engineering
- Boost-glide vs. air-breathing cruise system comparison
- Systems engineering principles for hypersonic projects
- Digital twin and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) applications
Testing, Verification, and Validation
- Ground testing in high-enthalpy facilities and shock tunnels
- Flight test instrumentation and telemetry
- Risk-based verification and computational modeling techniques
Counter-Hypersonic and Defense Systems
- Early detection and tracking challenges
- Layered defense concepts (space, ground, and sea-based)
- Sensor fusion, AI, and EW integration for counter-hypersonic defense
Programmatic, Policy, and Future Trends
- U.S., NATO, and adversarial hypersonic programs overview
- Export controls, ITAR, and international collaboration
- Future trends: reusable hypersonic aircraft, quantum navigation, AI-enabled design
Optional Path to Certification: Certified Hypersonic Systems Professional (CHSP)
Participants may pursue the Tonex Certified Hypersonic Systems Professional (CHSP) credential by completing:
- The 2-Day Hypersonic Training
- The CHSP™ exam (75 questions, minimum passing score: 70%)
Certification Benefits:
- Industry-recognized qualification in hypersonic system engineering and operations
- Demonstrates applied understanding of aerothermodynamics, propulsion, and GNC integration
Counts toward advanced Tonex credentials such as:
- Certified Aerospace Systems Engineer (CASE)
- Certified Advanced Weapon Systems Professional (CAWSP)
- Certified C5ISR Systems Professional (C5ISRP)