Hypersonic Missile Flyout

I will teach you how to fly a hypersonic missile on your computer based on authoritative design data from the Air Force Research Laboratory.

You begin by running my entire simulation in order to experience the overall fly-out of the missile from hypersonic cruise at high altitude down to terminal attack.

Then you study the components of the missile starting with the 5 DoF equations-of-motion over the round rotating Earth, the coordinate systems, and how aerodynamic and propulsive forces drive Newton’s law.

To steer the missile, I have built controllers and guidance algorithms, which I share with you to apply to your own concepts. You will see how they are distinctly different from 6 DoF G&C implementations.

Finally, as you understand the inner workings of the simulation, you use it to study the overall performance of the hypersonic missile, its cruise altitude and range, flying through way-points, making evasive maneuvers, using overhead satellites for targeting, approaching the terminal dive, and intercepting targets.

Throughout the course you will be given the opportunity to internalize the complex features of the fly-out simulation by doing hands-on exercises and creating professional-looking plots.

With your Window’s laptop, loaded with the Microsoft C++ compiler, you explore the performance of this missile and, even better, may adapt the simulation to your own hypersonic concept.

Update Oct 2025: CADAC Studio download changed to the landing page of my AIAA textbooks’ fourth edition "Modeling and Simulation of Aerospace Vehicle Dynamics”.