Warhound Raises $200M to Genetically Engineer Military Working Dogs
Defense-tech startup Warhound emerges from stealth with a $200M raise, partnering with Colossal Biosciences and Anduril to breed genetically enhanced working dogs for the U.S. military.
Warhound, a defense technology startup co-founded by Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril, announced its emergence from stealth on Thursday with $200 million in funding. The round, which values the company at $1.2 billion, was backed by investors including In-Q-Tel (the CIA's venture arm), Sequoia Capital, and 8VC. The company aims to genetically engineer working dogs for the U.S. military, law enforcement, and emergency response teams.
The initiative addresses a specific supply chain vulnerability: according to the company, more than 80% of working dogs used by the U.S. military are sourced from Europe, and less than half are fit for service. Lamm noted that many dogs fail training due to genetic predispositions to issues like poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy. To combat this, Warhound will leverage Colossal’s biotechnology to edit genes in Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd cell lines, removing detrimental traits while enhancing capabilities such as olfactory sensitivity, speed, and agility.
Beyond biology, Warhound integrates hardware and software enhancements provided by Anduril. Although Luckey does not hold equity in Warhound, Anduril will supply protective vests and eye goggles equipped with data sensors to improve situational awareness and coordination for both the dogs and their handlers. Lamm described these additions as being “on top of the dog, not in the dog,” aiming to boost safety and performance through external technology.
The first batch of cloned and incubated dogs is expected to be born early next year, with a goal of entering service within two years. Viagen, another Colossal-owned entity, will assist with cloning. Warhound has not yet set pricing but targets customers such as the Department of Defense and police forces. The company is working with the American Humane Society to certify its training programs and ensure retired dogs are placed through reunification programs.