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 Australian government and its academic and industry partners have officially launched the iLAuNCH space Trailblazer at the University of South Queensland in Toowoomba. The Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (iLAuNCH) Trailblazer has the University of Southern…
The Department of Defence has signed a $32.2 million agreement with not-for-profit foundation NQ Spark Pty Ltd, paving the way for work to begin on the North Queensland Simulation Park (NQ Spark) in Townsville. This will be a newly developed,…
An Australian Stern Landing Vessel (SLV) designed by Gold Coast-based Sea Transport Pty Limited is positioning itself to act as the heavy lift component of the Australian Army’s greatly enhanced littoral manoeuvre capabilities under Project LAND8710 Ph.2. This will replace…
The Adelaide-based SmartSat CRC has launched a $7 million project to develop new autonomous spacecraft using artificial intelligence (AI). The three-year project, Spacecraft Autonomy and Onboard AI for Next Generation Space Systems, known as SCARLET-α, will bring together eight SmartSat…
The UK’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation has conducted the first trials of a mine hunting ‘mothership’ and autonomous vessels as a step towards fielding an autonomous mine hunting capability. In a milestone moment for the future of Royal…
Australia’s Defence Space Command moved from the Royal Australian Air Force to the Joint Capabilities Group (JCG) on 1 July as part of the Australian Government’s response to the Defence Strategic Review (DSR). Additionally, No. 1 Space Surveillance Unit (1SSU)…
Sydney-based DroneShield Ltd has been awarded a follow-on 2-year R&D contract worth $9.9 million by a Five Eyes Department of Defence (DoD). The award follows DroneShield materially completing the $3.8 million contract announced 4 June 2021 with the same DoD. The company has not named the customer. “Follow-on contracts are…
As it promised, the Australian Department of Defence on 1 July launched the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) to drive Defence innovation and the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) which will be responsible and accountable for the management and oversight of…
BAE Systems Inc in the USA has successfully tested Manned- UnManned Teaming (MUM-T) on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) C4UAS as a technology demonstration using IAI/ELTA Systems Ltd’s Rex MK II Unmanned Infantry Combat Support System. The teaming technology enhances…
Construction of the first new Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) satellite dish has begun at Lockheed Martin’s Telemetry Tracking and Command Station in Uralla, New South Wales. SouthPAN improves positioning accuracy to as little as 10 centimetres which will help…
