Diploma in Aerodynamic Design of Tactical Aircraft
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in aerodynamic design of tactical aircraft: 8 modules covering aerofoil and wing aerodynamics, transonic and supersonic flow, high angle of attack, stability and control, CFD and wind tunnel testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Aerodynamic Design of Tactical Aircraft — studying from Singapore
Singapore maintains a comprehensive defence sector through the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Science and Technology Agency, which develops military technologies and manages procurement. Engineering work covers land systems, ammunition, command and control, and simulation. Industry partners include ST Engineering, which supplies defence and security systems globally. Engineers here work within strict security and export control frameworks, often combining systems integration with reliability and safety engineering.
Fees for Singapore: S$1,280 (Singapore dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Singapore
Typical roles
Questions from Singapore
How does defence engineering work in Singapore, and which bodies oversee it?
Singapore's defence engineering is largely centred on the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and DSTA, the defence procurement and development agency, along with the Singapore Armed Forces. Engineers may register with the Professional Engineers Board (PEB). SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and not accredited by any national body, so recognition for defence roles depends on the employer or relevant authority.
Who employs defence and land systems engineers in Singapore?
Main employers include MINDEF, DSTA, the SAF, and defence industry companies including ST Engineering. Access to many roles requires security clearance and citizenship or residency rules, so check eligibility early. Employers focus on proven competence and clearance status. Your final project can illustrate technical capability, but it does not replace these requirements.
Is the course manageable alongside a job, and can employers fund it?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan for a heavy workload: 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 for a specialist course. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which is common in defence-linked organisations, though approval is up to them.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse aerofoils and their behaviour.
Design wings taking into account sweep, aspect ratio and twist.
Understand transonic and supersonic phenomena.
Analyse flight at high angles of attack.
Assess aircraft stability and control.
Carry out validated CFD simulations.
Plan and interpret wind tunnel tests.
Who it's for
- Aerodynamics engineers.
- CFD specialists applying simulation to complete aircraft configurations.
- Wind tunnel test engineers.
- Flight mechanics engineers.
- Aircraft design engineers.
- Aerodynamics researchers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aerospace industry.
What you'll work with
- MIL-STD-1797A (flying qualities of piloted aircraft)
- MIL-HDBK-1797B (flying qualities handbook)
- JSSG-2001B (air vehicle joint service specification guide)
- AIAA G-077-1998 (verification and validation of CFD simulations)
- ISO 2533:1975 (standard atmosphere)
- XFOIL
- XFLR5
- SU2
- OpenVSP
- Ansys Fluent
8 modules
1.1Potential flow theory1.2NACA aerofoil families1.3Boundary layer1.4Laminar-turbulent transition1.5Flow separation1.6Supercritical aerofoils1.7Reynolds number effects1.8Polar curves1.9The XFOIL tool1.10Practical: aerofoil polar with XFOIL
2.1Lifting-line theory2.2Induced drag2.3Effect of sweep2.4Effect of aspect ratio2.5Vortex lattice method2.6Delta wings2.7Geometric and aerodynamic twist2.8Oswald efficiency factor2.9Wingtip devices2.10Lab: VLM analysis in XFLR5
3.1Critical Mach number3.2Drag divergence3.3Area rule3.4Shock waves3.5Linearised supersonic theory3.6Wave drag3.7Supersonic leading edges3.8Nozzles and base effects3.9Compressible CFD3.10Case study: area rule applied to a fuselage
4.1Leading-edge vortices4.2Leading-edge extensions4.3Vortex breakdown4.4Canards4.5Stall onset4.6Spin4.7Loss of control4.8Control surfaces at high angle of attack4.9High-angle-of-attack testing4.10Case study: vortices of a leading-edge extension
5.1Stability derivatives5.2Longitudinal static stability5.3Dynamic modes5.4Relaxed stability5.5Fly-by-wire controls5.6Control surfaces5.7MIL-STD-1797A requirements5.8Flying qualities5.9Flight simulation5.10Workshop: dynamic modes in MATLAB
6.1RANS equations6.2Turbulence models6.3Mesh generation6.4DES and LES methods6.5Verification and validation6.6AGARD validation cases6.7Full configuration6.8Post-processing6.9High-performance computing6.10Lab: RANS simulation with SU2
7.1Subsonic and transonic tunnels7.2Aerodynamic balances7.3PIV velocimetry7.4Pressure-sensitive paints7.5Wall corrections7.6Test models7.7Flow visualisation7.8Similarity7.9Correlation with CFD7.10Case study: correction of wind tunnel data
8.1Aerodynamic requirements8.2Aerofoil selection8.3Wing design8.4Transonic analysis8.5High-angle-of-attack behaviour8.6Stability and control8.7CFD simulation8.8Wind tunnel test plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is XFOIL, XFLR5, SU2, OpenVSP and Ansys Fluent, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practice is based on real procedures for wind tunnel testing, full-configuration CFD simulations and dynamic stability analysis. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: MIL-STD-1797A, MIL-HDBK-1797B, JSSG-2001B, AIAA G-077-1998, ISO 2533:1975.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with XFOIL, XFLR5, SU2, OpenVSP and Ansys Fluent, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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