Warhound Launches With $200M to Build Genetically Engineered Military Dogs

Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm and Anduril’s Palmer Luckey have launched Warhound, a company dedicated to engineering genetically enhanced dogs for the U.S. military and other emergency responders. The venture emerged from stealth on Thursday with $200 million in funding, backed by investors such as Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. This capital injection values the company at $1.2 billion.

The financial backing supports a mission to address a specific deficit in the military's current capabilities. Warhound stated that more than 80% of working dogs currently used by the U.S. military are imported from Europe, and fewer than half of those animals pass fitness standards. Lamm noted that many dogs fail training due to inherited predispositions to conditions such as poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy.

Lamm and Luckey began collaborating after meeting at a conference roughly a year ago, where Luckey suggested more should be done for military working dogs. The project will utilize Colossal’s technology to modify the genetics of top-performing breeds, specifically the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. The team is banking cell lines from these dogs to edit genes that enhance health and longevity while removing those linked to failure, with the goal of creating a new type of dog.

Anduril is contributing the hardware and software components for the project. The company will provide gear such as protection vests and goggles designed to assist dogs and handlers with situational awareness. Lamm described the integration of technology as something that sits “on top of the dog, not in the dog,” explaining that bulletproof vests equipped with data sensors can provide handlers with information about the animal's condition.

While Lamm owns no equity in the venture, Colossal holds equity and supports the business by licensing its technology. Warhound plans to utilize cloning technology from Viagen, another Colossal-owned company, to produce the first batch of animals. Lamm indicated that the cloning and incubation process is imminent, with births expected early next year.

The company anticipates that these dogs will be ready for service within two years. Warhound intends to sell to first responders, police forces, and the Department of Defense, though specific pricing has not yet been determined. To ensure ethical standards, the company is working with the American Humane Society to certify its training program.

The American Humane Society commented on the partnership, stating, “We applaud Warhound and Colossal for inviting the country’s first national humane organization, which is grounded in science and ethics, to have a seat at the table. We look forward to working with them to help ensure the animals in their care are treated humanely.” The organization also offers programs to assist with the care of retired military dogs.