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 Australian Government has released Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy, providing greater clarity to industry to grow and enter AUKUS supply chains. The Strategy outlines the prioritisation framework that will give businesses in Australia the confidence to invest in their…
Saab has officially opened its expanded Australian headquarters and Sovereign Combat Systems Collaboration Centre (SCSCC) in Mawson Lakes, South Australia. Saab and its partners will use the facility to undertake software development, systems integration, testing and prototyping, strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence…
Washington-based online publication Breaking Defense, reports that the US Air Force’s Armaments Directorate and the Pentagon’s California-based Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) have down-selected two companies, Anduril Industries and Zone 5 Technologies, to develop a new modular, low-cost air vehicle under…
Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) have completed an initial flight test integrating the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) weapon system onto the F-35B Lightning II fighter. This most recent test follows a flight…
US defence prime contractor Lockheed Martin has developed a software solution that it says can connect advanced warfighting systems, accelerating the realisation of the US Department of Defense’s vision of Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2). The company’s self-funded…
The US Air Force has announced that its two Collaborative Combat Aircraft CCA) prototypes, the Anduril Fury and General Atomics XQ-67A, will receive official designations and will fly during the northern summer of 2025. This is the first time in…
Californian company Rocket Lab USA, Inc has revealed details about ‘Return On Investment’, the ocean landing platform for Neutron launchers returning to Earth for re-use ‘Return On Investment’ is a 122m modified barge that will be customised to enable landings…
Norwegian company Kongsberg has completed acceptance testing and delivery of the first HUGIN Superior Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and US Navy. The company’s Large Diameter Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (LDUUV) was delivered only one year…
Californian company Varda Space Industries' W-2 capsule safely returned to Earth at Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, completing a 45 day dual-purpose mission with payloads from the United States Air Force and NASA. The Koonibba Test Range…
Industry professionals from across Australia’s maritime and survey sectors gathered in Fremantle for the official launch of the USV Fremantle 1, a 12-metre Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) built by EGS Survey Australia. The navigational autonomy for USV Fremantle is provided…
