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
Neumann Space and the University of Melbourne have announced successful completion of the first in a series of on-orbit tests of the Neumann Drive, a novel electric propulsion system based on solid metal propellants, and one of a number of…
The US Navy Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) has arrived at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia to undergo Australia’s first nuclear-powered Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (STMP). She joined the US submarine maintenance ship USS Emory S Land which is…
Three Australian companies will each build 100 general purpose Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) under contracts worth a total of $6.6 million awarded under the Sovereign UAS Challenge being managed by Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA). AMSL Aero, Boresight and Grabba…
The South Australian owned and manufactured microsatellite Kanyini has been launched successfully onboard a SpaceX rocket from the United States. Communications have been established with the satellite so commissioning is now under way. Kanyini was one of 108 spacecraft deployed…
UK company QinetiQ has been awarded a £20 million ($38.9 million) contract to build a radio frequency, anti-jamming test facility at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down flight test centre in Wiltshire. This will be one of the largest…
The US Navy has installed the world’s first Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), where Air Vehicle Pilots (AVPs) will control future MQ-25 Stingray airborne operations. This major installation was a multi-year effort coordinated…
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have finalised the establishment of an export licence-free environment, which Defence says will unlock billions of dollars of investment and cutting red tape for Australian industry and its AUKUS partners. Delivering on…
Adelaide-based PMB Defence Engineering (PMB) has signed a £13 million ($25 million) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) to test and qualify a new battery system for the UK’s nuclear submarines. This contract is a continuation of…
Adelaide-based KBR has achieved the Operative Date contractual milestone for the Capability Life Cycle Management of the Royal Australian’s Navy’s (RAN) Amphibious and Replenishment Ship fleet. Under the new National Defence Strategy (NDS) the amphibious ships in particular have become…
Queensland Based Sea Transport Group’s sister company Sealease Pty Ltd has signed a 3-year charter for a 73m version of their proven and mature Stern Landing Vessel (SLV) designs, supporting the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for a 3 year…
