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 Omen Group 3 Autonomous Air Vehicle (AAV) will be the first of many systems to be co-developed and locally produced by the EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance, says Anduril. The company describes Omen, which first flew in prototype form in 2020,…
US defence contractor Lockheed Martin has delivered its 750th HiMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) launcher to the US Army. The achievement comes as part of an urgent production jump, doubling annual production output from 48 to 96 launchers to meet accelerated demand …
California-based Anduril Industries and Korean firm HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have announced a partnership to design and produce a new class of dual-use Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV) that combines HD Hyundai’s legacy in shipbuilding with Anduril’s speed-to-market, software-defined autonomy and…
Sydney based DroneShield has announced a further $7.6 million sale of its hand-held, Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) products to the US Department of Defense. The company says it has received a package of 3 standalone contracts for handheld systems for…
New Zealand autonomy and uncrewed vehicle specialist Syos Aerospace demonstrated its mastery of both autonomy and the manufacture of uncrewed vehicles when it demonstrated control of its SM300 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), which was based in the UK, from Sydney,…
Adelaide-based submarine battery manufacturer PMB Defence is partnering with BAE Systems in the United Kingdom to enable the potential integration of its advanced nickel-zinc battery system into the design of the future conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS submarines. PMB will also supply…
Four Australian‑developed quantum technology clocks have been successfully trialled in the United States, as part of Defence’s $2.7 million investment towards these AUKUS Pillar Two capabilities. Held over a six-week period in Washington D.C., the trials saw Adelaide‑based QuantX Labs and the University…
Newport, Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has announced a new 190-foot autonomous boat, the Romulus 190, that is designed by Sydney-based Incat-Crowther. The new Romulus design is part-built already and will be operational in 2026, says HII’s Duane Fotheringham. It…
US company Leidos will manufacture its aluminium, 37-foot (about 11.3m) Sea Archer Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) in Australia. The first of class is currently under construction in the US but the second will be built in Toronto on the mid-north…
Canberra-based Raytheon Australia has been awarded a $277 million contract extension to continue managing the Ryal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Collins-class combat system. This extension allows Raytheon Australia’s local team and local and international partners such as General Dynamics Mission Systems…
