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
Boeing Defence Australia’s (BDA) autonomous MQ-28A Ghost Bat will be transitioned into a warfighting system for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under a $1.4 billion program, including a $754 million contract to BDA. Designed and built in Australia under the…
US defence prime contractor Northrop Grumman has unveiled Project Talon, a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) designed to fly autonomously alongside crewed fighters. It advances collaboration between crewed and uncrewed aircraft, acting as a force multiplier to enhance lethality, adaptability and…
US Defence giant Northrop Grumman has successfully tested the first of two new Solid Rocket Motors (SRM) — SMASH!22 and BAMM!29 2.0 — which were designed and manufactured in 2025 under the company’s SMART Demo program. This milestone marks a key achievement in the project’s…
Australia will start manufacturing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) All Up Rounds and Launch Pod Containers this month after the opening of a new factory near Defence’s Proof and Experimental Establishment at Port Wakefield, South Australia. Lockheed Martin Australia…
US defence prime contractor Lockheed Martin has opened a 17,000ft2 (1,600m2) Hypersonics System Integration Lab (SIL) at its Huntsville campus. Construction has taken just over one year and the US$17.1 million ($26 million) capital investment underscores Lockheed Martin’s commitment to maintaining US strategic…
Californian company Saildrone has completed a mission to map the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, using a Saildrone Surveyor Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV). Earlier this year Saildrone and Thales Australia announced a collaboration, funded…
In ‘one of the most significant reforms to defence that we have seen,’ the Australian Department of Defence will establish an all-new Defence Delivery Agency combining the functions and budgets of its principal procurement agencies, the Capability and Sustainment Group…
The Australian Department of Defence is establishing a new Defence Delivery Agency designed to strengthen and streamline acquisition and sustainment activities. The new agency , to become operational on 1 July 2026, will deliver the capabilities, skills and workforce needed…
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has marked a significant milestone with successful first-of-class trials of the Edge 130 tri-copter Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) on the evolved Cape Class Patrol Boat (eCCPB) HMAS Cape Pillar. Conducted throughout September in Darwin Harbour and surrounding…
Brisbane-based rocket manufacturer AtSpace, has successfully sent its Australian-made A01 rocket higher than any other Australian commercial rocket has gone before. The 12.2m tall vehicle launched from Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range, performed perfectly and flew close to the target…
