# Hybrid reaction-jet and aerodynamic control of an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle

> I studied how reaction jets and aerodynamic surfaces can share the work of controlling a hypersonic vehicle as air gets thinner.

- Role: Flight dynamics research
- Year: 2026
- Page: https://madhavsonkusare.com/work/hypersonics/

## Achievements

- Final-year research, MIT Manipal
- Reaction jets + aerodynamic surfaces

## The idea

Aerodynamic controls need air to push against. In thinner air, maintaining control can demand more movement from the surfaces.

Reaction jets create a turning moment directly. My simulation explored sharing commands between jets and surfaces instead of asking either system to do everything.

## Jet locations

Pitch: jets near the nose provide nose-up and nose-down moments.

Yaw: sideways jets near the nose turn the vehicle left and right.

Roll: jets beside the centre of gravity provide a banking moment.

The layout keeps exhaust clear of the intake, nozzle and aft control surfaces. Rendered ports illustrate these regions, not a finished hardware installation.

## Qualitative findings

In the simulated manoeuvres, blending jets with surfaces reduced peak surface demand.

Jet assistance helped maintain control where aerodynamic authority was limited.

Sharing commands helped the model follow combined manoeuvres with less surface saturation.

More jet assistance eased demands on the surfaces, at the cost of more propellant.

## Scope

This is a simulation study, not a flight-tested vehicle. The model treats the vehicle as rigid; structural flexibility and thermal effects remain future work.

The effect of a jet interacting with the surrounding flow needs further validation. Illustrative plumes and motion do not reproduce a measured flow field.

Research figures and numerical results are withheld while publications are being prepared.

Final-year research at MIT Manipal, carried out at Thrustworks Dynetics with guidance from Dr. Nagaraja Shetty and Mr. Yash Mane.