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
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…
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…
