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
Gregor Ferguson The Government’s Defence Strategic Review, released early in 2023, side-stepped the issue of building a fleet of surface combatants for the RAN. Instead, the Government announced yet another Review, by retired US Vice-Admiral William Hilarides, which was completed…
Virginia-based Aurora Flight Sciences has begun manufacturing work on a new X-plane for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program. This latest phase follows the successful completion of the Critical Design…
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of General Tomahawk Weapons System Support Services Uplift and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$250 million ($373 million). The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency has…
Adelaide-based defence SME Acacia Systems will lead a $1.6 million project designed to increase the accuracy and range of undersea surveillance systems. The project – Enhancing the RAN’s Undersea Surveillance Minimum Viable Capability – aims to improve operational performance by increasing the…
Yemeni-based Houthi rebels have deployed and then blown up an explosives-packed Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) in the Red Sea’s international shipping lanes. The USV was believed to be targeting either merchant shipping using the Straits of Bab el Mandeb, or…
US aerospace and defence company Boeing has delivered the first Orca Extra Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) to the US Navy following the completion of acceptance testing. The XLUUV is a new class of autonomous submarine that can perform long…
BAE Systems Australia has been awarded a $110 million facility services contract by Defence to extend its F-35 Lightning II sustainment and maintenance operations at RAAF Base Williamtown. This is Stage 2 contract is an extension of the company’s $100…
During the Indo Pacific 2023 International Maritime Expo in Sydney EX2 was briefed by Northrop Grumman Australia on Defence’s purchase of the MQ-4C Triton Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV). Gregor Ferguson If you’re going to field long-range weapons, it helps if…
The US Congress has passed the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes substantial enabling provisions for Australia’s AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program. The NDAA will see the transfer of Virginia-class Submarines to Australia and will streamline the flow of defence trade between…
The US Missile Defense Agency’s upgraded Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) has intercepted an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) in a live-fire test at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The test was conducted in cooperation with US Northern Command, the US…
