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
Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems Holdings has won a $15 million contract to supply Slinger counter-drone systems to Diehl Defence in Germany. The systems will be integrated by Diehl Defence onto a lightweight 4x4 platform, providing a defensive capability to protect…
Five US companies have been selected to manufacture a range of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) for the US Air Force. The companies are: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics and Anduril Industries. The CCA program, which is understood to…
The UK Ministry of Defence (UKMoD) has successfully trialled a military laser which can engage targets with extreme accuracy while reducing reliance on high-cost direct and indirect-fire ammunition. During a trial at the MOD’s Hebrides Range in Scotland, the DragonFire Laser…
BAE Systems’ US subsidiary, in collaboration with Moog, has successfully tested its Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) Counter-Uncrewed Aircraft System (C-UAS) prototype during a live fire demonstration in Arizona. In various realistic battlefield scenarios at the Big Sandy range in Kingman,…
San Diego-based General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has been awarded a contract of undisclosed value by the US Space Development Agency (SDA) to demonstrate the capabilities of the company’s Optical Communication Terminals (OCTs) hosted on GA-EMS’ GA-75 (75kg class) spacecraft…
Australia and Japan have signed an agreement to enhance strategic capabilities in robotic and autonomous systems for undersea warfare. The research project between Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) is the first…
European missile house MBDA has received three contracts worth around £400 million ($773 million) for an Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) upgrade and enhanced support of the Sea Viper principal area air defence system of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers. The…
Four US Navy Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) have returned to their home port in California after a 46,651 nautical mile trip, including participating in Australia’s EX Autonomous Warrior.. Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, the third multi-domain unmanned capabilities exercise under…
Sydney-based Thales Australia has strongly welcomed the Australian government’s $37.4 million contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to commence manufacturing of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) from 2025 in Australia, says the company’s CEO Jeff Connolly. Thales Australia runs…
US missile manufacturer Raytheon has successfully completed a technical review and a seamless prototype fit-check on an F/A-18 Super Hornet in phase one of the US Navy's Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface (HALO) missile program. The company, with its industry…
