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 US Defense Advanced research Projects Agency, DARPA, has down-selected six companies from the original nine contenders who will advanced to the next stage of its ANCILLARY program. Phase 1b of ANCILLARY, which stands for AdvaNced aircraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And…
Sydney-based DroneShield Ltd has received a repeat order worth $5.7 million from an undisclosed US Government customer for a number of its C-UxS (Counter-UxS) systems. Further material orders are anticipated from this customer. The delivery, involving multiple DroneShield product lines,…
The Eurodrone program has successfully passed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR). Led by Airbus Defence and Space as prime contractor, this major program milestone has been completed with OCCAR and representatives of the four customer nations (France, Germany, Italy and…
The UK’s development of a sovereign hypersonic strike capability is taking a substantial leap forward, says the country’s Ministry of Defence, with a new agreement to facilitate collaboration on hypersonic technology. Ninety organisations from across industry and academia have secured…
The UK Ministry of Defence will see ship and submarine construction rise to 28 hulls thanks to a planned increase in defence spending to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The increase in build numbers includes six new amphibious warships…
A $60 million joint investment between the Federal and State governments will fund a new defence academy at Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen. The Australian Defence Technologies Academy is expected to open in 2026, providing digital training, education and research crucial for…
Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is calling for abstract submissions exploring disruptive technologies that would contribute to the defence of Australia by giving the country an asymmetric edge over a better-resourced, larger enemy. Entries close on 3 June.…
Fort Worth-based helicopter manufacturer Bell Textron Inc has revealed its Aircraft Laboratory for Future Autonomy (ALFA). Developed by the company’s Advanced Programs team, ALFA is dedicated to performing flight manoeuvres with an aircraft safety system and executing autonomous fly-by-wire flights.…
Toulouse-based Airbus has finalised the acquisition of Bingen, Washington-based Uncrewed Air System (UAS) manufacturer Aerovel and its Flexrotor UAS in a move to strengthen its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions. Flexrotor is a small tactical UAS designed for Intelligence, Surveillance,…
Arlington, Virginia-based AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 loitering munition has been selected for Tranche 1 of the first iteration of the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) Replicator initiative. The AeroVironment (AV) Switchblade 600 is a man-portable, extended-range loitering munition system equipped with…
