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
Australian Defence Magazine has joined The Australian and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in reporting that two contenders – ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – have been shortlisted to provide the RAN’s eleven planned General-Purpose Frigates, worth up…
South Australian company Southern Launch has been granted all approvals for the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex located on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. Work on permanent facilities will begin in earnest with the first launches…
Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies has been granted Australian first orbital launch permit, enabling launch of its Eris rocket from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland. The permit was granted by Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, and…
South Australian company Southern Launch and California-based Varda Space Industries, an American microgravity-enabled life sciences company, have received authorisation from the Australian Government for a series of satellite returns at the former’s Koonibba Test Range in country South Australia. The…
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 -…
