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
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…
Korean company Hanwha Aerospace has signed a contract with UK-based BAE Systems to integrate next-generation, anti-jamming Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into Hanwha Aerospace’s Deep Strike Capability precision-guided weapon system. This contract brings the two aerospace and defence technology companies…
ASCA, Defence's Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, seeks proposals to develop and demonstrate a sovereign Prototype Undersea Navigation System (UNS) that can operate in deep ocean transit without relying on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) or acoustic transmissions. Responses are due 12…
Round 18 of the CRC-P program is open for applications, closing 7 October 2025. Applications are invited from all industry sectors. CRC-P grants provide between $100,000 and $3M matched funding for projects of up to 3 years. Projects must: develop a…
Sydney based Macquarie University and the nearby University of Wollongong have developed a sonar sensor capable of operating in shallow water and coastal environments. The two universities’ smart sonar and accessible hydrography project has progressed the local manufacturing of state-of-the-art…
US defence company Leidos has unveiled Sea Dagger, an autonomous next-generation Commando Insertion Craft (CIC) concept developed for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The first craft of its size to combine speed, range, vehicle delivery and modular mission systems…
The UK’s BAE Systems and Canadian company Cellula Robotics have signed a 10-year exclusive agreement to continue working together on Herne, a new autonomous submarine developed specifically for military use, and have announced that they expect to deliver a market-ready…
