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 Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) NUSHIP Eyre has been launched at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. NUSHIP Eyre is the second in the class of OPVs being built by Luerssen Australia under Project SEA1180, in collaboration with local defence industry partners,…
The Australian Army has conducted its first live-fire of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) at the Woomera test range in South Australia. The firing by the 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, demonstrates the modernisation of Army’s…
German company HyImpulse Technologies plans to launch its SR75 hybrid propulsion sounding rocket from Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range in the first quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory approval. The sub-orbital mission will be launched from, and touch down in,…
French prime contractor Exail, which is short-listed for the RAN’s autonomous minehunting program, Project SEA1905 Tranche 1, will open an Advanced Centre for Mine Countermeasures systems Software Integration and Simulation (ACSIS) in Adelaide if it wins the program. This will…
Sydney-based DroneShieldhas signed a collaboration agreement with Lockheed Martin Australia’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Leadership and Research Laboratory (STELaRLab) in Melbourne. As part of this collaboration, DroneCannon Mk2, DroneShield's wide area non-kinetic effector, has been integrated into Lockheed Martin Australia’s Agile Shield Program. Agile Shield has been…
Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems (EOS) unveiled its latest ground-breaking technology for countering air and seaborne threats at the Indo Pacific 2023 International Maritime Exposition. The company launched its laser Dazzler, a silent, non-ballistic countermeasure against uncrewed aerial and seaborne threats,…
Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the first flight of Australia’s multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft at its Palmdale Aircraft Integration Center in California. The flight marks a major production milestone as Northrop Grumman progresses toward delivery of Australia’s first Triton…
The Melbourne-based Defence Science Institute has congratulated the three winners at its Indo pacific 2023 Innovation Pitchfest: Best Overall Innovation - MrHenry Hamilton, MRead Limited - 'Introducing next-gen explosive detection technology' Best Maritime Innovation - MsRebekah Manley, OneTide Modular - Mission Deck: no-weld seafastening…
Sydney-based Hypersonix Launch Systems, a global leader in hypersonic unmanned aerial systems, has signed a MoU with Nominal Systems, the next generation digital twinning platform. Hypersonix is teaming with Nominal Systems to develop Hyper Twin X TM a digital twin…
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) will acquire six Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft under a US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement. has announced its acquisition strategy for an initial Alliance Future Surveillance and…
