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
The Lockheed Martin VISTA X-62A, a one-off training aircraft, has been flown by an Artificial Intelligence agent for more than 17 hours, representing the first time AI has been engaged on a tactical (AI) aircraft. The flight took place as…
The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) Quantum Research Network (QRN), under the Next Generation Technologies Fund (NGTF), is seeking submissions in the area of Quantum-Enhanced Communications (QEC). Building upon the success of previous rounds of QRN investment, and identifying new…
Submissions are now open for the US Army’s xTechInternational Advanced Manufacturing and Materials competition. Non-US SMEs, universities and research organisations are invited to enter for the chance to: Engage with and pitch to the US Department of Defense. Be awarded up…
By Sascha Sinclair, Systematiq. Systematiq is a veteran-owned Defence industry consulting firm providing career pathways for men and women transitioning from defence to civilian work. One of Systematiq’s capabilities is the provision of Training Systems through its highly skilled team…
The Defence Trailblazer for Concept to Sovereign Capability program has taken another step in being formalised with the conditions of grant being finalised and the announcement of the board members. It is estimated that the project, a partnership between the University…
Applications are now open for round 24 of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants. As part of this successful, long-running program, businesses and researchers work together to find sustainable solutions for Australia's economic, environmental and social challenges. CRCs are expected…
Entries are now open to aspiring astronauts to be part of the 2023 Endeavour Scholarship Mission Team # 10 - TEAM AUSTRALIA at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. Entries close Sunday 10 March. Four young Australians aged 15-18 will…
Adelaide-based AML3D Limited has won a $1millipn contract from the US Navy to supply a large-scale, industrial ARCEMY ‘X-Edition 6700’ Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing metal 3D printing system. This will support the US Navy’s accelerating adoption of Wire Arc additive manufacturing…
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne team have successfully completed a second Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) flight test, doubling the amount of scramjet powered vehicle data. Launching from a…
The first Lockheed Martin LM 400, a flexible, mid-sized satellite customizable for military, civil or commercial users, has rolled off the company’s digital factory production line and is advancing toward its planned 2023 launch. The agile LM400 spacecraft bus design,…
