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
Stratford, Connecticut-based Lockheed Martin Sikorsky has unveiled its Nomad future family of autonomous Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs). The Nomad UAS is designed for reconnaissance, light attack, contested logistics and other missions, says Lockheed Martin Sikorsky. Less than a year ago…
Sydney based DroneShield will invest $13 million over three years to establish a new Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) R&D facility in Adelaide, South Australia. The new site is expected to be fully up and running by March 2026 and will…
Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited (EOS) has been awarded a $108 million contract to supply R400 Remote Weapon Systems (RWS) for the Australian Army’s AS21 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV). These are being acquired under Project LAND400 Phase 3.…
The Royal Australian Navy has demonstrated its new Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS), the Insitu Australia RQ-21 Integrator. Operated by 822X Squadron at RANAS Nowra south of Sydney, the Integrator is a fixed-wing UAS with an endurance of up to 16…
Defence has awarded US-headquartered engineering company KBR up to $133.6 million over five years to support Defence’s Air and Space Operations – Command and Control System (ASO-C2CS). The sustainment contract with KBR’s Adelaide-based subsidiary will deliver critical integration enhancements to…
Japanese company Astroscale Holdings Inc, which specialises in satellite servicing and long-term orbital sustainability across all orbits, has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Australian company High Earth Orbit Robotics Pty Ltd (HEO), a market leader in non-Earth…
Defence’s Science and Technology Group (DSTG) has awarded the 2025 Department of Defence Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia to two scientists who have developed a radiation-shielded chip. DSTG project lead Dr Kamal Gupta and Macquarie University scientist…
Lockheed Martin’s storied Skunk Works organisation in Palmdale, California, has launched Vectis, a Group 5 survivable and lethal autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Vectis embodies the company's pedigree in fighter aircraft, autonomous systems and open mission architectures, says Lockheed Martin, and…
Sydney based DroneShield says it has surpassed 4,000 Counter Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) systems sold worldwide with the receipt of a package of 2 standalone contracts totalling $7.9 million for handheld systems for delivery to the US Department of Defense. DroneShield expects…
Melbourne-based SYPAQ Systems has unveiled the export-ready CorvoX Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) to the international market for the first time at DSEI London 2025. The company also announced that CorvoX will be delivered to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under…
