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
Australian Defence Magazine reports the Australian government will acquire a further seven MQ-28A Ghost Bat uncrewed fighters in a $454 million extension to Defence’s Loyal Wingman Program. Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton, said the investment will see the seven uncrewed autonomous…
Defence will invest $1 billion establishing a new naval regional maintenance centre at Fleet Base East (FBE), the Garden Island Defence Precinct in Sydney. Following an open tender which he said was ‘imminent’, Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said the…
The Australian Government will equip Australia’s special operations forces with enhanced equipment and technology in the second stage of the $1 billion Project Greyfin. This second stage focuses on innovation, research, science and technology to help Australia’s special operators address…
Sydney based companies Thales Australia and Ocius Technologies have teamed to advance the development and deployment of a scalable Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) capability for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and surveillance missions. The Australian-designed and manufactured Blue Sentry autonomous system, comprising…
More details have emerged about Hypersonix Launch Systems’ $8 million Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant, announced 21 April. The grants were awarded to successful applicants under the MMI Defence Translation stream. Hypersonix Launch Systems won $8 million for the DART…
Lockheed Martin Australia has partnered with Canberra-based cyber security specialist Penten to deliver advanced cyber security capabilities to support the RAAF’s Project AIR6500 Phase 1 Competitive Evaluation Process Stage 2. The contract will see the two companies collaborate to investigate…
Navantia Australia and Australian engineering services company UGL, a part of the CIMIC group, are partnering to bid for the Australian Army LCM-8 landing craft replacement project, LAND 8710 Ph.1 – Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium (LMV-M). Navantia Australia first…
The RAN will arm its surface combatants with the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 for anti-air and anti-missile defence. Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said the purchase of the ESSM Block2 capability is a key pillar in…
Defence technology company Anduril Industries and the Australian Defence Force are entering into commercial negotiations for a US$100m co-funded design, development and manufacturing program for Extra Large Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (XL-AUVs) for the Royal Australian Navy. The XL-AUV will be…
Raytheon Australia has teamed with local defence industry leaders Austal and BMT to deliver the new Australian Independent Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel, or ILMV for the Australian Army. The project is reported to be worth around $800 million and will see…
