DARPA has awarded RTX’s BBN Technologies a role in its INGOTS (Intelligent Generation of Tools for Security) program, aimed at revolutionizing how cybersecurity threats are detected and neutralized.
Under the initiative, BBN will create STALAGMITE, a high-capacity testbed combining virtual and physical setups to replicate real-world Android security vulnerabilities. This environment will allow researchers to observe attack patterns and defense performance without risk, offering a faster and more scalable alternative to traditional manual testing. The platform will support continuous, automated experiments to speed up vulnerability research and security patch development.
The system’s integrated design will give cybersecurity specialists a single, cohesive environment to identify and mitigate potential threats before they escalate. The project comes amid rising concerns over critical infrastructure security, with CISA reporting 1,300+ known exploited vulnerabilities in active use by attackers.
Running for three years across three phases, the INGOTS program will combine research and operational tools to strengthen defenses across civilian, governmental, and military networks. By automating exploit chain analysis, the initiative aims to catch vulnerabilities that piecemeal testing often overlooks.
