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 Adelaide-based SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has unveiled the Compact Hybrid Optical-RF User Segment (CHORUS) prototype terminal to create more stable and secured military satellite communications at the 15th Australian Space Forum. Funded by SmartSat CRC, the technology embedded…
Nova Systems Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jim McDowell will be leaving Nova to take up the appointment of Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment at the Australian Department of Defence's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG). He succeeds Mr Tony…
The UK Space Agency has issued a call for proposals for the International Bilateral Fund which aims to strengthen UK space sector partnerships with strategic and emerging space nations. Applications close at noon on 9 June 2023 (London time). The…
Australia’s 2023-24 Defence Budget was handed down on 9 May 2023, less than a month after the release of the unclassified Defence Strategic Review (DSR). It follows much the same trajectory as the budgets handed down last year: the budget…
The Department of Industry Science and Resources has released Australia’s first-ever National Quantum Strategy. The Strategy will help guide collaboration between researchers, industry partners, start-ups and the government into the future. It identifies five priority areas to be pursued over…
The Australian Government will establish a new agency and a new regulator as part of its commitment to delivering Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) will be established by Executive Order on 1 July this year and…
The US State Department and Defense Security Cooperation Agency have approved an Australian government request to acquire the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Expeditionary (SURTASS-E) mission system for Vessels of Opportunity (VOO), along with related equipment, for an estimated US$207…
Defence has appointed the former Chief of CASG’s Aerospace Systems Division, AVM Leon Phillips OAM, inaugural Chief of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise. The GWEO Enterprise will accelerate the establishment of a local long-range guided weapons and…
Defence has awarded Rheinmetall Defence Australia signed a contract to build Multi-Ammunition Soft-Kill System (MASS), to equip its ANZAC-class frigates and HOBART-class destroyers with anti-ship missile defences. The MASS system provides an electromagnetic decoy to protect ships from sensor-guided missiles.…
Defence has awarded a $46 million contract to Brisbane-based L3Harris Micreo to manufacture up to 80 new Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robots. The new robots will carry cameras and sensors that have an improved ability to find, examine and neutralise…
