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
California-based defence contractor Anduril Industries has announced Pulsar, an agile software-defined EW system that can swiftly adapt to changing threats and mission needs in all domains. Although it is believed to have been in service for some time, the system’s…
Heilbronn-based German rocket manufacturer HyImpulse has successfully conducted the maiden launch of its SR75 rocket from Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range in South Australia in a milestone achievement for commercial launch capabilities in Australia. The single-stage SR75 rocket, which reached…
Northrop Grumman’s Manta Ray prototype Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) built by has completed full-scale, in-water testing off the coast of Southern California says the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The test program demonstrated at-sea hydrodynamic performance, including submerged…
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have released proposed changes to national exemptions to remove export controls between AUKUS partners. These changes are designed to enable defence industry across all three countries to work more seamlessly in a…
Adelaide-based engineering and technology firm KBR has won the $130 million, five-year Capability Life Cycle Manager (CLCM) contract for the RAN’s amphibious and replenishment ships. The contract will see KBR sustain Navy’s two Canberra-class LHDs, the two Supply-class AORs and…
The Department of Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia have signed the contract to deliver the first phase of Project AIR6500, the Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS). The company was named winner of the contest to head this project in…
Adelaide-based Trellis Data has teamed with UK company CCL Solutions Group to integrate Trellis’s AI-powered solutions with CCL’s existing platform. This will offer intelligence officers a toolkit of AI-enhanced digital forensics capabilities to deliver faster evidence-gathering and analysis powered by…
With the FY2024 budget now approved, the US Department of the Air Force has selected Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) for detailed design, manufacture and testing of production representative test articles under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)…
Perth-based Austal Australia has completed the first phase of the collaborative Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), the Sea Acceptance Trials (including Endurance Trials) of the remote and autonomously operated vessel, Sentinel. The trials, conducted by Austal Australia, consisted of a…
The US Department of Commerce has announced that Australia and the United Kingdom are being provided with a national exemption from the Export Administration Regulations. This will come into effect in September 2024 and reduce the burden associated with US export…
