Warhound Secures $200M to Build Genetically Engineered Military Canines

The United States military faces a growing gap in its canine workforce, a problem that has driven the creation of Warhound, a new company dedicated to engineering superior working dogs. The venture emerged from stealth on Thursday with a $200 million funding round that values the firm at $1.2 billion. Investors in the deal include Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel, a venture capital firm backed by the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. The company was co-founded by Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey, who is a partner in the venture but holds no equity stake.

The core tension driving Warhound’s mission is the dwindling domestic supply of fit working dogs. According to the company's launch announcement, more than 80 percent of the U.S. military's working dogs are sourced from Europe, and less than half of those imported animals are deemed fit for service. This reliance on foreign nations for a critical military asset has prompted Lamm and Luckey to explore genetic solutions. Lamm noted that many current breeds suffer from inherited issues such as poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, and muscle atrophy, which can lead to failure during training.

Warhound plans to address these biological limitations by editing the genes of top-performing breeds, specifically the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. The team has collected cell lines from these animals to store in a biobank. Using technology licensed from Colossal Biosciences, the company will add genes that improve performance and remove those that hinder it. The goal is to create a new type of dog with enhanced health, longevity, speed, and olfactory sensitivity for tasks like bomb detection.

To complement the genetic enhancements, Anduril will provide hardware and software designed to assist both the dogs and their handlers. This equipment will include protection vests with data sensors and goggles that improve situational awareness. Lamm described the technology as being placed on top of the dog rather than inside it, aiming to make the animals safer and more effective in the line of duty while also protecting their human handlers.

The first batch of genetically modified dogs is currently being cloned and incubated by Viagen, another Colossal-owned company. Lamm expects births to occur early next year, with the dogs ideally entering service within two years. The company has not yet determined pricing but anticipates selling to first responders, police forces, and various military service groups. Lamm stated that the company has briefed numerous government entities regarding the business model and the technology involved.

Regarding the welfare of the animals, Warhound is working under the guidance of the American Humane Society to certify its training program. The society aims to ensure that these new canines are treated humanely throughout their service lives. Upon retirement, the dogs are expected to enter the Military Working Dog Reunification Program or other initiatives offered by the society to find them permanent homes. The American Humane Society applauded the collaboration, expressing its commitment to ensuring the animals in Warhound's care are treated with scientific rigor and ethical consideration.