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
Sydney-based DroneShield has been assigned NATO Stock Numbers (NSNs) for four of its products: RfPatrol Mk2, DroneGun Mk3, DroneGun Mk4, and DroneSentry-X. This follows up on the assignment in 2019 of NSN for DroneGun Tactical. That NSN significantly contributed towards…
US company Red 6, an Augmented Reality (AR) technology firm at the forefront of synthetic air combat training and augmented reality applications, has signed a strategic agreement with the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF),…
The Sydney-based Defence Innovation Network is inviting academics, defence scientists and industry working in the CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear) sector to attend a workshop leading to a $500,000 research grant. Entries close at 1200 AEST on 18 July.…
Sydney-based Saber Astronautics has opened its new South Australian headquarters and design facility in the Bice Building in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen innovation precinct. This new facility will be Saber’s primary place of business in South Australia, and includes both software…
The Sydney-based Defence Innovation Network is inviting academics, defence scientists and industry working in the CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear) sector to attend a workshop leading to a $500,000 research grant. Entries close at 1200 AEST on 18 July.…
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…
