First-of-its-kind challenge tests fully automated, self-healing systems that defend against cyber attacks

DULLES, Va., Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep Red, a team of cyber experts from Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), will be one of seven teams competing in the Defense Advance Research Project Agency's Cyber Grand Challenge finals during the DEF CON conference, August 4 in Las Vegas. DARPA's Cyber Grand Challenge is the first competition to pit unmanned, fully automated systems against cyberattacks.

"The Raytheon team is advancing technologies that will automatically diagnose and mitigate cyber vulnerabilities. That's critical in the Internet of Things age, when everything in our lives is connected," said Jack Harrington, vice president of Cybersecurity and Special Missions at Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services.

DARPA launched the Cyber Grand Challenge as a computer security tournament using automated, cyber reasoning systems in place of human experts. Cyber reasoning technology will improve efficiencies and shorten the timeline for dealing with vulnerabilities from days or weeks to seconds.

Applying artificial intelligence, a cyber reasoning system can simulate the logic and thought process of a cybersecurity analyst. Raytheon's cyber reasoning system uses autonomous reverse engineering software, continuous machine learning and advanced analytics to ensure the code is 'smart' enough to keep up with evolving threats.

"Raytheon has fielded the only team from the aerospace and defense industry to advance to the DARPA CGC finals, using the same emerging, self-healing technologies we offer to our customers," Harrington said. "With critical infrastructure companies facing the daunting combination of a cyber expert shortage and an increasing number of cyberattacks, we will continue to fund our research in this field."

The DARPA CGC launched in 2014 with 105 academic and industry teams. Through preliminary competitions, the qualifiers were narrowed down to seven finalists. Most competitors, including Raytheon, have entered on the 'open track' available to self-funded teams. The final challenge competition will be held in conjunction with DEFCON, one of the world's largest computer security conferences.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.