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 US Defense Department has announced the award of nearly US$240 million ($374 million) to eight regional iinnovation hubs’ around the United States under the CHIPS and Science Act. These will be a part of the Microelectronics Commons and will…
UK firms BAE Systems and QinetiQ have signed a framework agreement which will see both parties collaborate on the development of autonomous Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) and mission management systems. The framework agreement will explore the potential to collaborate and…
Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems has launched an advocacy campaign to reshape the global regulatory environment which hobbles the introduction of hypersonic technology. Hypersonic drones, poised to revolutionize aerospace, space, and defence, have the potential to redefine industries such as cargo…
The Australian government has approved the acquisition of a fourth MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), and upgrades to the RAAF’s fleet of 14 P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). The estimated combined value of these decisions is over…
MBDA has received additional funding from the UK Ministry of Defence to accelerate the development of the SPEAR-EW stand-in jammer. SPEAR-EW, which is derived from the company’s air-launched strike weapon, is a novel Electronic Warfare (EW) effector designed to confuse…
A pilotless plane has flown on and off a Royal Navy aircraft carrier for the first time. The W Autonomous Systems (WAS) Unmanned Air vehicle (UAV) flew from the Lizard Peninsula and on to the flight deck of the carrier…
American engineering firm KBR has partnered with Adelaide-based DEWC Services (DEWC) spectrum security technology in support of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Under the agreement, Adelaide-based KBR Australia and DEWC will share skills and experiences to develop novel solutions to…
San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is poised to begin the flight-testing phase on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) LongShot program. The LongShot program, begun in 2020, is DARPA’s concept for disruptive air combat operations through…
Melbourne-based Aerosonde, a Textron Systems Corporation subsidiary, has won an initial contract valued at up to US$19.5 million ($30 million) by the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to provide UAS operational support to two Independence-class LCS and one…
Bingen, Washington-based Insitu, A Boeing Company, has announced a munitions program for its Integrator Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) which adds a highly sought-after strike capability to the platform’s payload portfolio and class-leading 24-hour flight endurance. Insitu collaborated with multiple weapons…
