It educates students for supporting the military and civil aviation industries of China.

Since 1999, SAU has been under the administration of the Liaoning Provincial Government and is the only university owned by the China Industry and Information Technology Ministry and the Liaoning Provincial Government.

It is one of the eight universities constructed by the former China National Defence Ministry and local provincial governments.

In addition, it is the only university of aeronautical and astronautical engineering in Liaoning Province.

Every year a large number of foreign students get admission in this university.