Startups plan to build high tech war dogs with genetic edits and Anduril gear

Warhound has emerged from stealth with a $200 million funding round to develop genetically engineered dogs for military and emergency response teams. The startup secured investment from Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel, a venture firm supported by U.S. intelligence agencies. This funding values the company at $1.2 billion and supports its mission to create canines capable of handling dangerous tasks that are difficult for machines or risky for humans.

The company was founded by Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril. Lamm stated that he met Luckey at a conference about a year ago, where they discussed the state of working dogs. Lamm subsequently researched how these animals are bred and found that many fail training due to inherited health issues such as poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy. This realization led to the concept of enhancing dogs for better health, longevity, and specific performance traits like speed and olfactory sensitivity.

Warhound aims to solve a critical supply issue. According to the company, more than 80 percent of U.S. military working dogs come from Europe, and fewer than half of those are fit for service. This heavy reliance on foreign nations leaves the U.S. with a dwindling domestic supply of animals that play vital roles in law enforcement and defense. Warhound intends to change this dynamic by breeding dogs with characteristics suited for demanding missions using Colossal’s technology.

The technical process involves studying top performing breeds, specifically the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. The team has placed cell lines from these dogs into a biobank. They plan to edit the genes by adding traits that improve performance and removing those that cause problems. This goal is to create a new type of dog that is healthier and more capable in the line of duty. Viagen, another company owned by Colossal, will partner with Warhound to clone the dogs, utilizing technology with a high success rate currently used in endangered species programs.

Anduril will provide the hardware and software components for the dogs. This includes protection vests and goggles designed to give handlers better situational awareness. Lamm described the gear as bulletproof vests with data sensors that transmit information back to the team. He emphasized that Anduril’s role is to make the dogs safer and healthier through external equipment, a concept he described as working on top of the dog rather than inside it. These enhancements are expected to benefit the human handlers as well.

Luckey serves as a partner in the venture but does not hold equity in the company. Colossal owns the equity and supports the business by licensing its gene editing technology. Colossal is widely known for its de-extinction efforts to revive animals like the mammoth and dodo. The company uses artificial intelligence and specialized lab equipment to clone genes and identify traits, a capability it is now applying to working canines.

The first batch of dogs is set to be cloned and incubated soon. Births are expected in early 2027, with the animals ideally entering service within two years. Warhound has not yet determined the price for these enhanced dogs but expects to sell them to first responders, the Department of Defense, military service groups, and police forces. Lamm noted that the company has already briefed numerous government groups regarding the business model and operational details.

Regarding civilian safety and management, Lamm explained that each dog will undergo standard military working dog training and be managed by its purchasing organization. To ensure ethical treatment, the company is working with the American Humane Society to certify its training program. The hope is that these dogs will eventually enter the Society’s Military Working Dog Reunification Program upon retirement, which helps find homes for retired military animals.

The American Humane Society issued a statement supporting the partnership. The organization said it was pleased to be invited to the table to ensure the animals are treated humanely, grounded in science and ethics. The Society looks forward to collaborating with Warhound and Colossal on the project. This launch marks a significant step in combining biotechnology and defense hardware for the U.S. security sector.