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
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…
US company BMNT Inc has launched the AUKUS Defence Investor Network (DIN) dedicated to accelerating the growth of new capabilities and building new industries. The AUKUS DIN, a collaboration with the Defense Innovation Units in the US and UK, is…
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) Increment 1 to the US Army, providing long-range precision fires capability and achieving a major modernization milestone. Initial deliveries followed a successful production qualification test at White Sands Missile Range,…
An Australian start-up company is poised to revolutionise the minerals exploration industry with a small device for precisely measuring gravity that is so sensitive it can detect even small ore bodies at greater depths than any other instruments in use. The…
Sydney-based Advanced Navigation has been awarded a $306,000 Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant by the Australian Department of Defence to advance the nation’s domestic manufacturing capability for photonic chips. Currently, Australia does not have commercial manufacturing capability for photonic chips.…
The UK has signed an international Treaty with Japan and Italy for a future combat air programme that aims to develop an innovative stealth fighter with supersonic capability and equipped with cutting-edge technology. The treaty marks a key stage of…
The US Congress is expected to approve as early as this week this week the transfer of at least two US Navy Virginia-class submarines to the Royal Australian Navy under Pillar 1 of the tripartite AUKUS agreement. Approval of the…
