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
Defence will acquire 40 Australian-designed and built Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) under a $176 million, five-year contract to enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s undersea warfare capabilities. The funding, announced by Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence,…
Sydney-based DroneShield has established a European counter Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) manufacturing facility at an undisclosed site in Belgium. This marks a major expansion of the company’s European footprint and manufacturing capacity, says DroneShield in a media release, and follows…
Fort Worth-based Bell Textron Inc has successfully held the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the next-generation aircraft demonstrator, designated the X-76. This milestone allows construction to begin on the platform that is the focus of the Defense Advanced Research Projects…
Researchers at the University of Sydney have built an ultra-compact Artificial Intelligence (AI) chip that is able to make calculations using the power of light, at the speed of light. Their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, demonstrates how AI…
Defence has appointed Brisbane-based Bechtel Infrastructure Australia the design services consultancy to undertake master planning of the consolidated Henderson defence precinct. This will support sovereign shipbuilding and sustainment in Western Australia, says Defence in a media release. Establishment of the…
Yeovil-based Leonardo UK has been selected for a £1 billion ($1.88 billion) UK Ministry of Defence contract for New Medium Helicopters (NMH). The contract, for 23 AW149 helicopters, makes Yeovil the Italian company’s company’s global centre for military helicopter production and exports, which…
Brisbane-based Australian hypersonic flight pioneer Hypersonix Launch Systems has successfully completed the first flight of its DART AE hypersonic aircraft, marking a major milestone in the development of advanced hypersonic systems. The mission, titled That’s Not A Knife, lifted off from…
UK Magazine Flight International reports that Mount Manganui-based Syos Aerospace is to equip the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) with its SA2 and SA7 quadcopter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs). The company will also provide the NZDF with its SM300 uncrewed…
Lockheed Martin has flight tested an AI-enhanced Combat Identification (Combat ID) capability integrated into the F-35 Lightning II’s information fusion system. The successful demonstration, known as Project Overwatch, marks the first time a tactical AI model has been used in…
California-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has demonstrated Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) using its MQ-20 Avenger unmanned jet and a US Air Force (USAF) F-22 Raptor during an autonomous mission out of Edwards Air Force Base. The two platforms were…
