Innovation and R&D have always been the essential foundations of a strong, sustainable defence industry. Australia’s 2016 Defence White Paper, Defence Industry Policy Statement (DIPS) and Defence Integrated Investment Program (DIIP) acknowledge the importance of successful Defence R&D and innovation to the nation’s defence industry and thus to Australian defence policy. The 2020 Defence Force Structure Plan reinforced these foundations.
EX2 was set up by Dr Gregor Ferguson, a defence industry and innovation analyst and consultant, to make a useful contribution in Australia’s new and welcoming defence business environment.
EX2 helps innovators in Defence, the research sector and industry, and especially SMEs, by providing news and insight about innovation in Defence and adjacent sectors such as space, aerospace and resources.
Gregor Ferguson writes, teaches, advises and runs a national program designed to encourage and reward innovators in the defence, aerospace and maritime domains in both industry and the research and academic communities.
View his bio here (PDF opens in new window).
Dr Gregor Ferguson, Ph.D, BA (Hons), MRAeS
BAE Systems Australia has teamed with Perth-based SME Innovaero to launch Australia’s first domestically designed, manufactured and armed VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) Uncrewed Air System (UAS), STRIXTM, at Avalon 2023 The STRIX UAS collaboration brings together BAE Systems’ global…
BAE Systems Australia and European missile group MBDA have announced a collaboration agreement that will support Australia as it establishes its sovereign Guided Weapon and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) capability. The Australian government is expected to make GWEO-related announcements over the…
European guided weapons company MBDA is set to re-open its office in Canberra as it positions itself for an Australian market that will be shaped by the Defence Strategic Review (DSR). While it has yet to name a new in-country…
BAE Systems Australia has announced the design and development of a new sovereign munition concept, RAZERTM, a low-cost air-launched Precision Guided Munition (PGM) wing/body kit and tail unit. Launched from Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV) such as the STRIX (see…
AVALON 2023 was in effect the public debut of the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat, an Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that was originally unveiled, in model form, at AVALON 2019. The aircraft on display in 2023 was the real thing.…
Sydney-based SiNAB showcased its Phoenix Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) pod at AVALON 2023. The Phoenix Pod is a self-contained ISR asset that incorporates a high resolution EO/IR sensor, laser pointer and designator and multiple air to ground communication systems…
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Leidos have agreed to continue the successful business relationship established originally in 2006 between GA-ASI and Cobham Australia. With Leidos’ acquisition of the Cobham Special Mission business in October 2022, Leidos has now…
Melbourne-based ARKEUS used AVALON 2023 to launch its Hyperspectral Optical Radar (HSOR), a sovereign, Australian-made, maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensor system developed for the RAN. The HSOR is a real time autonomous wide-area hyperspectral sensor that the company…
Australian firm Quasar Satellite Technologies Pty Limited has been awarded a $5.3M Defence Innovation Hub contract to develop a multibeam phased array space communications ground station as well as enhanced space domain awareness. The company has also been shortlisted for the Avalon…
Advanced Composite Structures Australia (ACS Australia) recently celebrated its 30th. birthday. The company is delivering unique, high-value composite materials engineering and manufacturing solutions for clients based around the world. It has also been developing a body of expertise and a…
