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
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…
Adelaide-based Babcock Australasia and Perth-based Franmarine will deliver critical underwater sustainment and biofouling management services for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) under a new $10m contract. Since 2018, the two companies have delivered biofouling management capability to the RAN to…
Three Royal Australian Navy officers will be assigned to US Virginia class submarines based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii after graduating from their submarine training in Groton, Connecticut. Lieutenant Commander James Heydon, Lieutenant Commander Adam Klyne and Lieutenant William Hall…
The US Air Force has flown a manned F-16 fighter against an uncrewed one, the X-62A VISTA, in a series of dogfights at Edwards Air Force Base. This is a world first and an important step towards fielding a so-called…
The US Marine Corps has selected the latest version of the AeroVironment Switchblade 300 for the first phase of its Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) program. Washington DC-based AeroVironment’s (AV’s) Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition system (LMS) will provide the…
The Australian Department of Defence has unveiled its first Ghost Shark Extra Large Autonomous Underwater Vessel (XL-AUV), ahead of schedule and on budget. Ghost Shark will provide the Royal Australian Navy with a stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability that can…
Groton, Connecticut-based maritime technology firm ThayerMahan, Inc. has signed a collaboration agreement with Sydney-based autonomous uncrewed vessel developer Ocius Technology Ltd. The partners will demonstrate a powerful new capability at the AUVSI XPONENTIAL event 23 to 25 April off San…
