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 Fleet Space Technologies has successfully demonstrated satellite-enabled Push-to-Talk (PTT) capabilities on a Centauri-4 satellite as part of the Defence Space Command-funded ASCEND2LEO project. The Adelaide-based SmartSat CRC and local company Safety from Space supported Fleet Space by adapting a…
Frond Space Systems, a New Zealand-based company specialising in deployable space technology, will provide a dragsail system for Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies’ MMS-1 satellite mission. The MICRO dragsail system, developed by Frond, is a lightweight and compact device that…
Adelaide-based Saber Astronautics has formed a strategic partnership with Capricorn Space a leading Australian satellite ground station services provider. This collaboration is set to significantly bolster Saber Astronautics' Responsive Space Operations Centre (RSOC) program, incorporating Capricorn Space's advanced satellite ground station capability…
Australia’s first orbital launch facility has been granted a licence under the Space (Launches & Returns) Act 2018. Located within the Abbot Point State Development Area in north Queensland, the Bowen Orbital Spaceport is built and operated by Gold Coast-based Gilmour…
The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a US$219 million ($331 million) contract to produce more Early Operational Capability (EOC) Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). The award is the fourth production contract to date for the long-range surface-to-surface missile, which will…
Four of Sydney-based Spiral Blue’s SE-1 edge computers have been launched into orbit aboard the SpaceX Transporter-10 mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida. This successful launch brings the total number of Spiral Blue computers in orbit to 8 and also…
So, Defence has published two long-awaited (and long overdue) documents – the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) and its response to the Hilarides review of the RAN’s surface combatant fleet, Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet. You should read them together.…
The Australian Department of Defence has released a Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) that defines the strategic rationale for a sovereign defence industrial base and sets out pathways for maximising support for Australian industry and its critical contribution to national…
The US Navy’s Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG Global) has launched the 2024 Global-X Challenge which could see winners earning US$1 million ($1.52 million). White papers are encouraged, but not compulsory and are due 18 March 2024, with full proposals…
Applications for round 6 of the Defence Science Centre's Collaborative Research Grants are now open. Applications close 5.00pm (AWST) on 12 April 2024. The Collaborative Research Grant (CRG) program provides between $50,000 and $150,000 in funding for Western Australian research…
