Hypersonics Engineers

The development of hypersonics technology can be traced to 1949, when the U.S. Army—in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory—launched a rocket from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico that reached 5,150 miles per hour (or about Mach 6.7). In the 1950s and 1960s, experimental rocket-propelled aircraft were launched in the X-15 research program. The X-15 reached a top speed of Mach 6.7 (or about 5,150 miles per hour) on October 3, 1967. Scientists and engineers conducted these tests to better understand hypersonic flight and apply their research to the space program. Their findings were used in the development of the Saturn V rocket that took astronauts to the moon, as well as in the design of the space shuttle.

The United States has pursued the development of hypersonics weapons since the early 2000s. It conducted successful tests of hypersonics weapons in 2022. Russia fielded its first hypersonic glide vehicle in December 2019. It reportedly used a hypersonic missile during its invasion of Ukraine in 2022—although some aviation experts believe that it should not be classified as a hypersonic weapon. In 2024, Russia used an advanced hypersonic missile (which speed was estimated at Mach 8, or 6,138 miles per hour) to attack Ukraine. China has also conducted successful tests on hypersonics technology. Australia, France, Germany, India, and Japan are developing hypersonic weapon technology, and other countries—such as Iran—are conducting preliminary research on the use of hypersonic weapons. “While the potential impact of hypersonic technology will be revolutionary, there are still significant testing and design hurdles that must be cleared by the aerospace community,” according to “The Rise of Hypersonics,” an article from the consulting firm Deloitte. The complexity of this technology and these aforementioned design and testing challenges point to a bright future for hypersonics engineers and related professionals.