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
US defence contractor Lockheed Martin has unveiled its new Lamprey Multi‑Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle (MMAUV), which the company describes as a breakthrough “plug-and‑play” submersible designed to give US and allied war fighters technological and strategic advantage in today’s contested maritime arena.…
San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been selected by the US Marine Corps (USMC) for evaluation in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. This is the second…
The Launceston-based Australian Maritime College (AMC), part of the University of Tasmania, and HII have announced a major reliability milestone for AMC’s REMUS 100 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Over seven years, the AMC REMUS 100 completed 935 operational deployments with…
Defence’s Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is launching the Australian Energetic Materials Research Network in collaboration with Flinders University and RMIT University, who have been selected as strategic partners to lead this initiative. This network of Australian Universities will accelerate R&D…
The US Department of War has announced the shortlisting of 25 vendors of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs) who will help the department get some 300,000 loitering munition UASs into service, both quickly and inexpensively, by 2027. The list includes firms…
Aerospace giant Boeing has selected Brisbane-based Ferra Engineering to produce wing kits for its High-Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) under a contract of undisclosed value. The HAAWC is designed to be deployed from Boeing’s P-8A multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft,…
US defence prime L3Harris Technologies has been selected by US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to develop, test and manufacture affordable Red Wolf™ missiles for the US Marine Corps’ Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) program. Among other thigs it is…
The French Directorate General of Armament (DGA) has ordered a new version of the Aliaca SMDM ("Onboard Mini Aerial Drone Systems for the Navy") from Airbus Helicopters’ subsidiary Survey Copter. This Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) will now be delivered in…
Defence has established a new industry panel to advise it and other Australian Government agencies on Counter small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-sUAS) services, enhancing Australia’s ability to detect, deter and respond to emerging drone threats. The Defence Project Land156 Standing…
Defence will invest $508 million in the construction of new explosive ordnance storage and the redevelopment of base facilities at Orchard Hills in Western Sydney. The investment, part of the $21 billion Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) plan, supports…
