Warhound Secures $200M for Genetically Engineered Military Dogs

Warhound, a venture formed by Colossal Biosciences founder Ben Lamm and Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, has secured $200 million in funding to develop genetically engineered dogs for the U.S. military and other agencies. The funding round values the company at $1.2 billion, bringing the project out of stealth with backing from Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel, a firm supported by the CIA and other intelligence agencies. The capital will support efforts to breed canines specifically designed for dangerous tasks, including bomb detection and specialized search operations.

The venture addresses a significant supply issue within the U.S. armed forces. Warhound reported that over 80% of the U.S. military's working dogs are imported from Europe, yet fewer than half of those animals ultimately qualify for service. This reliance on foreign nations for working animals has created a dwindling supply of dogs suitable for law enforcement and military roles. Warhound aims to alter this dynamic by using Colossal's genetic technology to engineer animals with specific attributes suited for demanding missions.

Ben Lamm explained that he met Palmer Luckey at a conference about a year ago, where Luckey stated that more should be done for the military's working dogs. Following that conversation, Lamm researched the breeding of working animals and discovered that many fail to complete training due to inherited issues such as poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy. Consequently, his team is studying high-performing breeds like the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. They have taken cell lines from these animals to create a biobank, intending to edit genes to improve performance and remove problematic traits in order to create a new type of dog.

In addition to genetic modification, Anduril plans to provide software and hardware, such as protection vests and goggles, to assist the dogs and their handlers with situational awareness and coordination. Lamm described equipment like bulletproof vests equipped with data sensors that transmit information to handlers so they can better understand the situation. He stated that enhancing a dog's health and safety allows it to perform better in the line of duty, adding that Anduril's enhancements will be added on top of the dog, not in the dog.

Regarding the timeline for production, Lamm said the first batch of dogs is about to be cloned and incubated, with births expected early next year and service ideally beginning within two years. Viagen, another Colossal-owned company, will partner with Warhound to clone the dogs. Warhound does not yet know how much it will charge for the dogs but expects to sell to first responders, the Department of Defense, military service groups, and police forces. The company is working under the guidance of the American Humane Society to help certify Warhound's training program for the new dogs.

The American Humane Society addressed its involvement in the project, 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.” Lamm said each dog will be trained like any military working dog and managed by whoever buys it. He added that Colossal owns equity in the business and supports it by licensing its technology.