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
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…
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…
