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 US Marine Corps has awarded a US$15.5 million ($22 million) contract to Lockheed Martin Sikorsky for the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) Increment 2 program. Lockheed Martin Sikorsky will provide the Robinson R66 TURBINETRUCK, an autonomous…
Defence will invest $750 million to acquire 268 new generation Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles - Medium (PMV-M) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Thales Australia will build the Bushmasters at its Bendigo facility, continuing more than 20 years of production of…
The US Air Force and Space Force have initiated a major procurement effort to develop and field Space-Based Airborne Moving Target Indication (SB-AMTI) radar systems, says USSC in a media release. EX2 understands that USSF has opted for a multi-vendor…
Defence says it will more than double investment in C-UAS capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with up to $7 billion now allocated under the Integrated Investment Program (IIP) over the next decade. As part of the major boost…
Defence has signed contracts with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for Australia’s first three Japanese general purpose Mogami-class frigates. The ships will be of the upgraded Mogami class design, with the first scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy…
The Australian Government has released the 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) and Integrated Investment Program (IIP). Together, these documents set out the Government’s plan to respond to what it says is Australia’s worsening strategic circumstances. It has allocated $425 billion over the…
The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the capability effect of Persistent and Pervasive Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or P2ISR. The RFP closes on Saturday 18 May and…
The Royal Australian Navy RAN has formally named its Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU), marking a key step in its transition to a more highly advanced, technology‑enabled future force. The Officer in Charge is CDR Chris Forward. MASU has been…
The first Australian-assembled Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles have been successfully test-fired at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia. The successful firing expands the long-range strike capability of the Australian Army and demonstrates Defence’s commitment to building…
Defence has announced the development and extension of two significant programs to help local industry tap into the submarine supply chains of Australia’s AUKUS partners. This will help secure high-value manufacturing contracts that support Australian jobs, and develop robust and resilient…
