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 Federal department of Industry Science Energy and Resources (DISER) has awarded more than $32 million in grants to 13 industry-led joint research projects under round 12 of the Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P) initiative. These grants will help…
The Australian Department of Industry Science Energy and Resources (DISER) has awarded a $52 million grant to the Australian Space Manufacturing Network (ASMN) under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative. The grant will help to co-fund…
Elbit Systems of Australia, or ELSA, has made use of the hiatus caused by the controversy over its Battle Management System (BMS) for the Australian Army to reinvent itself as a thoroughly Australian company. Gregor Ferguson At the launch…
The Australian Department of defence has officially stood up its Defence Space Command. It is designed to protect Australia’s national interests and lead eventually to the creation of a national Space Force in the future, Minister for Defence Peter Dutton…
Defence operations analyst Dr Alexander Kalloniatis is the 2021 recipient of the Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science. He has been conducting research and development in various Australian Defence Force headquarters over the past 17 years leading to insights and innovations that…
The first Australian-made uncrewed combat air vehicle, Boeing’s Loyal Wingman, has successfully completed its flight test program, and has officially been named the MQ-28A Ghost Bat in a ceremony at RAAF Base Amberley. While he declined to commit to a…
Faster, more accurate storm predictions, real-time tracking of bushfire activity and open ocean surveillance from space are just some of the capabilities to be explored under a new partnership between Adelaide-based Silentium Defence, researchers at the US-based Duke University’s Pratt…
Australian space launcher manufacturer Black Sky Aerospace has achieved a major milestone with initial integration of guidance and control on a sovereign Australian missile launched in Queensland. Black Sky Aerospace CEO, Blake Nikolic, said Black Sky has teamed up with…
Elbit Systems of Australia (ELSA) has completed an extensive security and IT project as part of the process of enhancing its status as a sovereign Australian business. The company’s managing director, MAJGEN (retired) Paul McLachlan, said the business had been…
Australian company Sentient Vision Systems has been selected for a Foreign Comparative Technology (FCT) test by the U.S. Department of Defense to provide ViDAR Maritime systems for integration and evaluation for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). ViDAR, which stands for…
