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 Navy in partnership with Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) flight test with four missiles simultaneously in flight. During the 12th Integrated Test Event (ITE-12), the US Navy was able to demonstrate the weapon’s inherent…
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Strategic Command unveiled the Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub at Southwick Park, near Portsmouth. The facility, developed in partnership with the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl), will be the centre for experimentation and wargaming in…
Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems (EOS) and the Australian Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO) have successfully demonstrated the advanced long-range firing capabilities and precision of EOS' R400 remote weapon system (RWS). From EOS’ high-tech facility in…
San Diego-based Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. and Shield AI, Inc have announced the successful completion of the first phase of Shield’s AI-piloted flight-testing on-board the Kratos family of UAS as the two companies move toward productizing Shield AI’s…
Sydney-based DroneShield has been awarded a $900,000 R&D contract from an undiclosed Five-Eyes Government. The contract is specifically aims to leverage the potential of the DroneSentry-X Mk2 and aims to provide an initial set of software tools to enhance end-user…
The US Navy destroyer USS Preble has successfully completed Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-32 (FTM-32), using the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System to successfully intercept a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target using SM-6 Dual II Software Upgrade. Supported by…
The Australian Parliament has passed the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 (DTC Act) in a bipartisan move that is designed strengthen Australia’s national security and support local industry by unlocking defence trade, innovation and collaboration with Australia’s two AUKUS partners.…
The Australian Army has participated in the US-led Project Convergence, testing and developing networks, robotic and autonomous systems, air defence and strike-related systems at two locations in California. Project Convergence is a campaign of learning through persistent experimentation. It was…
Adelaide-based Space Machines Company has launched Optimus, Australia’s largest-ever private satellite and the company’s first Orbital Servicing Vehicle. Weighing 270kg, it went into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California during the Transporter-10…
The three AUKUS partners, Australia, the UK and USA, have jointly launched the AUKUS Electronic Warfare Innovation Challenge, the first in a planned series of AUKUS Innovation Challenges. The Australian lead in this Challenge is the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator…
