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 has released Advance Notice of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for research projects to be delivered under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) Program, for the capability effect of Decision Advantage. ASCA aims to…
The Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) has noted “with profound disappointment” the Australian Department of Defence’s decision to cease its procurement activity for Joint Project (JP) 9102. The SIAA has released a strongly worded statement on the cancellation and…
Defence has cancelled Joint Project 9102 Ph.1, the $6.9 billion Australian Defence Satellite Communications System which it awarded in April last year to Lockheed Martin Australia. It hasn’t said what might replace the capability, nor when it might enter service.…
The Australian Department of Defence has unveiled its blueprint to rapidly deliver missile manufacturing in Australia and accelerate the acquisition of long‑range strike over the next decade. It has also committed to local manufacture of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket…
Puerto Rican drone technology company Red Cat Holdings Inc has announced a new contract and order for 12 of FlightWave Edge 130 Blue medium reconnaissance system from the Royal Australian Navy. The contract was secured through Canberra-based Criterion Solutions Pty…
AUKUS partners have cooperated in the first large-scale demonstration of advanced autonomous capabilities during Exercise Autonomous Warrior 2024 in Jervis Bay, NSW. Exercise Autonomous Warrior is the first Australian-based exercise under the AUKUS Pillar II Maritime Big Play initiative -…
The Melbourne-based Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems (AAUS) and the Australian Certified UAV Operators (ACUO) will unite under a single banner to better represent and advocate for Australia’s uncrewed systems sector. AAUS will serve as the peak body for the…
Defence industry magazine ADM reports that the Australian Army’s 1st Armoured Regiment will trial a modified version of Newcastle-based 3ME’s electrically propelled Bushmaster ePMV in its new role as an experimental unit. Army unveiled the ePMV, powered by a 113-kilowatt-hour battery, at…
Melbourne-based AIM Defence has delivered two more of its Fractl high-powered counter-drone laser systems to Defence in a contract worth $4.8 million. The deal, signed at the end of August, comes less than four months after the Melbourne-based company supplied Defence…
The RAN will arm itself with Raytheon SM2 Block IIIC and SM6 missiles under a $7 billion agreement with the United States. The SM2 Block IIIC and SM6 are said by Defence to be the most advanced air and missile…
