Warhound emerged from stealth with USD 200 million in seed funding and a reported USD 1.2 billion valuation. The Texas-based startup was founded by Colossal Biosciences chief executive Ben Lamm and Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey.
The company aims to strengthen the domestic supply of working dogs in the United States. It says most US military dogs currently come from European breeders, creating a supply-chain vulnerability that Warhound aims to reduce.
Warhound has collected blood and cell samples from high-performing military, police and first-responder dogs. Its early program focuses mainly on Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers.
The startup plans to biobank the genetic material of proven animals and clone them. Lamm has said training and environment will still shape performance, but cloning gives the company a repeatable starting point.
The first gene-editing work targets inherited conditions rather than battlefield enhancements. Warhound wants to lower the risk of hip dysplasia, certain cancers and other disorders that can shorten a working dog’s career.
Later, the company may pursue traits linked to speed, agility and scent detection. Lamm has floated adding wolf olfactory-receptor genes to improve bomb-sniffing ability, though that remains a longer-term ambition.
Anduril will supply software, protective vests, goggles and sensor systems to support the dogs and their handlers. The equipment is designed to improve situational awareness and coordination during hazardous operations. The company expects to sell dogs to the Department of Defense, police forces, military units and emergency-response teams. It has not disclosed pricing.
Warhound says it is certified by the American Humane Society and has made animal-welfare commitments. Even so, the project will face scrutiny over cloning, genetic modification and the use of animals in combat-support roles.
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