Key facts
- Warhound aims to engineer dogs with enhanced health, longevity, speed, agility, and olfactory sensors.
- Anduril will provide hardware and software enhancements, such as protective vests with data sensors.
- The company is working with the American Humane Society to certify its training program.
Warhound, a new venture co-founded by Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril, has emerged from stealth with $200 million in funding, valuing the company at $1.2 billion. The startup aims to genetically engineer war dogs with enhanced traits for demanding missions in military, law enforcement, and emergency response roles. Warhound plans to use Colossal's gene-editing technology to improve dogs' health, longevity, speed, agility, and sensory capabilities, addressing issues like genetic predispositions to cancer and hip dysplasia that affect current working dogs. Anduril will contribute hardware and software, such as protective vests with data sensors, to enhance the dogs' safety and situational awareness for handlers. The company is working with the American Humane Society to certify its training programs and ensure retired dogs are rehomed.