Genetically Engineered War Dogs Get $200M

The United States military currently faces a persistent supply problem. More than 80% of its working dogs are imported from Europe, and fewer than half of those arrive in a condition fit for service. To address this gap, a new company called Warhound emerged from stealth on Thursday. The venture has secured $200 million in funding from investors including Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. This round values the startup at $1.2 billion. The project is a collaboration between Colossal Biosciences and Anduril, seeking to engineer canines specifically for dangerous tasks like bomb detection and search operations.

The concept stems from a meeting between Ben Lamm of Colossal and Palmer Luckey of Anduril about a year ago. Luckey noted the need for better support for military dogs. Lamm subsequently investigated breeding practices and found that many dogs fail training due to inherited issues such as poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy. He believes genetic editing can enhance health, longevity, speed, and olfactory sensors. His team has collected cell lines from high-performing breeds like Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds. These cells are stored in a biobank, where scientists plan to edit genes to improve performance traits and remove detrimental ones.

Anduril will supply the hardware and software components for the project. This includes protective gear such as vests and goggles designed to aid situational awareness. Lamm described the gear as adding sensors to bulletproof vests that transmit data back to handlers. He emphasized that these technological additions work "on top of the dog, not in the dog." The goal is to make the animals safer and more effective in the line of duty while also protecting their human partners. Luckey serves as a partner in the venture but holds no equity, while Colossal owns equity and licenses its technology.

Colossal Biosciences is best known for de-extinction efforts, such as reviving the dodo and mammoth. The company uses AI and gene cloning technologies to achieve these goals. For Warhound, Colossal will partner with Viagen, another entity it owns, to clone the dogs. Lamm stated that the first batch of dogs is about to be cloned and incubated. Births are expected early next year, with the animals ideally entering service within two years. The company has not yet determined pricing but expects to sell to first responders, the Department of Defense, and police forces.

Questions regarding government approval and civilian safety remain. Lamm said the company has briefed various government groups. He assured that each dog will undergo standard military training and be managed by its purchaser. To address ethical concerns, Warhound is working under the guidance of the American Humane Society to certify its training program. The hope is that retired dogs will enter the Society's reunification program to find new homes. The American Humane Society stated it looks forward to ensuring the animals are treated humanely, praising the companies for inviting a scientific and ethical perspective to the table.