The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics houses high-level research platforms, including the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Structure and Thermal Protection for High-Speed Aircraft, and Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Aerospace Machinery. Led by Professor Fei Qingguo, the department currently has 14 full-time faculty members, among whom are one national-level leading talent awardee, one national-level young talent awardee, and two recipients of the Young Talent Support Project of the China Association for Science and Technology. It is also home to over 80 enrolled doctoral and master's students.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering of the former National Central University (now the School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University) was the earliest school of aeronautical engineering talent training in China. In 1934, the department launched the establishment of aeronautical engineering education through the "Special Mechanical Research Class", a program equivalent to the graduate school system that emerged in later years. Following the outbreak of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the then National Aviation Commission, confronted with a severe shortage of specialized aeronautical engineering professionals, entrusted NCU with the operation of an Aviation Mechanics Training Class. This program admitted engineering graduates from universities across the country in the autumn of 1937.
During the 1952 National Reorganization of Higher Education Institutions in China, the Department of Aeronautics of the former National Central University was merged with the corresponding aeronautics departments of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University to establish East China Aeronautical College. The college was relocated to Xi'an and renamed Xi'an Aeronautical College in 1956, before merging with the Department of Aeronautics of Northwest Institute of Engineering in 1957 to form Northwestern Polytechnical University.
The former National Central University (now Southeast University) trained a total of more than 500 aeronautical engineering and technology professionals. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China's aeronautics and astronautics industry has witnessed rapid development. Many of its alumni have made outstanding contributions to the research, design and manufacturing of aircraft, the research and development of the national "Two Bombs, One Satellite" Program, and the education in aeronautical engineering and mechanical manufacturing, while also attaining remarkable achievements in the international academic community.
Southeast University re-established the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in April 2024. Today, the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics is oriented to the international frontiers and major national strategic needs of the aeronautics and astronautics sector, with a core focus on aerospace vehicles. Through the interdisciplinary integration of mechanical engineering, materials science, mechanics, and control science and engineering, it is committed to enhancing China's innovation capacity in key technologies for the design and manufacturing of aerospace vehicles. It has undertaken major national scientific research tasks related to aerospace vehicles, as well as key technical breakthrough projects for key aerospace models. It has led efforts to win a series of provincial and ministerial level scientific and technological awards, including the First Prize of the Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Award, the Second Prize of the Military Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and the Second Prize of the National Defense Science and Technology Progress Award.
The Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics has established sound cooperative partnerships with leading research institutions, including China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and Aero Engine Corporation of China. It has also received development support from the first batch of Excellent Engineer Programs at Southeast University. It has built robust academic exchange and cooperation ties with renowned overseas universities, including Northwestern University in the United States, New York University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the University of Alabama, and KU Leuven in Belgium.
Graduates of its doctoral programs have taken up faculty positions at domestic and overseas universities, pursued advanced studies at top international institutions, or joined large central state-owned aerospace enterprises. Their employers include Southeast University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Technical University of Munich, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and Aero Engine Corporation of China, among others.
Most graduates of its master’s programs are employed by large state-owned enterprises, central government-administered enterprises, and institutions within the aeronautics and astronautics sector. Key employers include the 14th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, the 10th Research Institute of the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the 8th Design Department of the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the 509th Research Institute of the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the 301st Research Institute of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the 624th Research Institute of Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the 702nd Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, and Huawei, among others.
