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
Just before the end of 2024 the RAAF received the last nine of 72 F-35A Lightning IIs it has ordered from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth. That is as much as the Australian government says the RAAF needs. The stated…
The Canadian Department of National Defence will acquire a version of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) to watch its northern Arctic approaches. It will acquire the JORN system from Australian prime contractor BAE Systems Australia in a C$6 billion…
An AI tool developed by Adelaide-based Nova Systems has made its first public appearance at a Test and Evaluation (T&E) Advanced Practitioners Course delivered in conjunction with the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania. The AI tool processes and examines…
Australia will manufacture guided missiles and 155mm artillery shells in-country from 2025, with Australia and the United States signing two memoranda of understanding. The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Co-Assembly agreement enables the assembly of a first batch of munitions in…
British sailors and essential infrastructure will be better protected following delivery of the first end-to-end autonomous, unmanned UK mine hunting vessel, RNMB Ariadne, under a contract worth some £184 million ($376 million). UK’s first Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) vessel capable…
QinetiQ Australia has successfully demonstrated a prototype of its scaleable high power laser optical chain at QinetiQ Laboratories (QLabs) in Adelaide, in collaboration with Defence’s Science and Technology Group (DSTG). Following the successful demonstration, QinetiQ and DSTG are closer to…
Melbourne-based AW Bell has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to progress production verification activities for the manufacture of canards - small aerofoils that act as control surfaces - for GMLRS munitions. This activity is part of a demonstration program…
San Francisco-based Saildrone will leverage fellow Californian company Palantir’s AI technology to deliver new insights for both manufacturing and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and targeting applications. Saildrone designs, manufactures, and operates Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) that enable maritime domain awareness and…
Defence will upgrade communication systems on Royal Australian Navy ships under the $200 million Project SEA1442 Ph.5 program with Brisbane-based Boeing Defence Australia. Brisbane will be the main hub for design and development work for this project which extends Boeing’s…
DARPA’s No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program has built a ship designed to operate autonomously for long durations at sea. This may be the first US Navy ship designed from the keel up for autonomous operations. The prototype Unmanned Surface…
