DARPA has selected RTX’s BBN Technologies to participate in its Intelligent Generation of Tools for Security (INGOTS) program, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity through automated threat identification and neutralization.
As part of the program, BBN will develop STALAGMITE, a large-scale test platform designed to evaluate and improve exploit detection tools. The system will integrate virtual and physical environments to simulate Android vulnerabilities, allowing researchers to safely observe attack patterns and defense responses.
STALAGMITE is expected to replace manual testing methods, offering a scalable, automated approach for vulnerability research and patch development. It enables repeatable experiments that improve both the speed and effectiveness of cybersecurity evaluations.
By unifying various testing components into one environment, the platform also aims to detect and mitigate threats before they can cause harm.
The INGOTS program is part of a broader US initiative to strengthen cybersecurity amid growing threats to critical infrastructure. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), over 1,300 known exploited vulnerabilities have been recorded, highlighting the need for scalable analysis tools.
INGOTS seeks to automate the modeling and analysis of exploit chains — sequences of vulnerabilities used to bypass system defenses — and integrate such tools into routine security testing.
The 36-month program is divided into three phases, combining theoretical research with the development of practical solutions for personal, governmental, and military networks.
