New startup plans to build genetically engineered war dogs for U.S. forces

The U.S. military currently relies heavily on imported dogs for critical tasks, a dependency that is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. This week, a new venture called Warhound emerged from stealth mode to address that gap. The company plans to genetically engineer dogs specifically for combat and emergency response roles.

Warhound has secured $200 million in funding. The investors include Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is a venture firm supported by the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. The latest round values the company at $1.2 billion.

The dogs do not exist yet. They are designed to handle dangerous jobs that are risky for humans or difficult for machines. These tasks include bomb detection and specialized searches. The company notes that over 80% of the military's working dogs come from Europe. Fewer than half of those imports are fit for service. This shortage means the U.S. depends on foreign nations for a key asset.

Ben Lamm, from Colossal Biosciences, met Palmer Luckey of Anduril about a year ago at a conference. They discussed the challenges facing military working dogs. Lamm researched how these animals are bred. He found that many fail training due to inherited issues. These problems include poor eyesight, cancer risk, hip dysplasia, and muscle atrophy.

Lamm believes genetics can fix these issues. The team is studying top-performing breeds like the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. They have taken cell lines from these dogs and stored them in a biobank. The plan is to edit the genes. They will add traits that improve performance and remove those that cause health problems. The goal is to create a new type of dog suited for demanding missions.

Anduril will provide the hardware and software for these animals. This includes protection vests and goggles. These tools help dogs and their handlers with situational awareness. Lamm described vests with sensors that send data to handlers. This allows the team to understand what is happening in real time. He noted that the gear works on top of the dog, not inside it, to keep the animals safer and healthier.

Luckey is a partner in the venture but does not own equity. Colossal Biosciences owns the equity and licenses its technology to Warhound. Colossal is known for efforts to bring back extinct animals like the dodo and mammoth. It uses AI to help with gene cloning and identification. Another company, Viagen, will clone the dogs. Its technology has a high success rate and is already used for endangered species.

The first batch of dogs is ready to be cloned and incubated. Births are expected early next year. The company hopes these animals will begin service within two years. Warhound has not set prices yet. It expects to sell to first responders, the Department of Defense, and police forces. Lamm said the company has briefed many government groups. Each dog will be trained like any other military working dog.

The American Humane Society is guiding the company on training standards. The goal is to ensure the animals are treated humanely. Retired dogs may enter the Society's reunification program to find homes. The Society said it looks forward to working with Warhound to ensure ethical care for the animals.