Extreme thermal environments pose significant challenges in the research and development of hypersonic vehicles, making thermal protection and strength critical concerns. To ensure the safety of these vehicles, it is essential to conduct thermal tests that simulate aerodynamic heating environments on both materials and structures. Radiation heating, as the core technology for applying thermal loads, has emerged as the preferred experimental method. It offers advantages such as a non-contact nature, precise and controllable energy across a wide spectrum, and relatively low costs. This paper provides an overview of commonly used radiation heating technologies in structural thermal testing of aircraft. Through an analysis of principles, characteristics, and applicability, heating methods like quartz lamps, graphite, and lasers are evaluated. Furthermore, the paper addresses existing issues with certain radiation heating techniques and explores the challenges faced in current aircraft structural thermal testing, while outlining prospects for future advancements.