Warhound Secures $200M to Engineer Military Canines

Warhound has secured $200 million in funding to develop genetically engineered working dogs for the U.S. military and law enforcement. The new venture, which emerged from stealth on Thursday, received backing from investors including Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. The round values the company at $1.2 billion.

The company was founded by Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril. Their goal is to address a critical shortage in the supply of military working dogs. According to the launch announcement, more than 80% of the U.S. military’s working dogs are sourced from Europe. Furthermore, fewer than half of these imported dogs are fit for service upon arrival.

Lamm explained that many dogs fail to complete training due to inherited health issues such as poor eyesight, cancer risks, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy. Warhound intends to use Colossal’s biotechnology to edit the genes of top-performing breeds, specifically the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. The process involves adding genes that improve speed, agility, and olfactory senses while removing those linked to common ailments.

Anduril will provide the hardware and software components for the program. The company plans to equip the dogs with gear such as protection vests and goggles. These items will feature data sensors that transmit information to handlers, improving situational awareness. Lamm described this approach as adding enhancements on top of the dog, rather than altering its biology further.

Colossal currently owns equity in Warhound and licenses its technology to the venture. Luckey is a partner in the business but holds no equity. Viagen, another company owned by Colossal, will handle the cloning process. Lamm noted that the first batch of dogs is expected to be cloned and incubated soon, with births anticipated in early 2027. The company hopes to have the animals in service within two years.

The company has briefed various government groups on its plans but has not yet finalized pricing. It expects to sell to the Department of Defense, police forces, and other first responders. To ensure civilian safety, each dog will undergo standard military working dog training and be managed by the purchasing agency.

Warhound is working with the American Humane Society to certify its training program. The organization aims to ensure the dogs are treated humanely. The American Humane Society stated that it looks forward to working with the team to ensure the animals in their care are treated with scientific and ethical rigor. Retired dogs from the program may enter the Society’s reunification program for new homes.