Funding secured for engineered military dogs

A plan to build dogs for the battlefield has just emerged from the shadows. On Thursday, a company named Warhound announced it has raised $200 million. The money comes from a group of investors. They include Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is a venture firm linked to the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. This funding values the company at $1.2 billion.

The project is a joint effort. It involves Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences. It also involves Palmer Luckey of Anduril. The goal is to engineer canines for the U.S. military. The dogs would also serve law enforcement. Emergency response teams are also potential users. However, the dogs do not exist yet. They are still in the design phase.

The company claims there is a real need for this work. It states that over 80% of U.S. military working dogs are imported from Europe. Furthermore, less than half of those dogs pass the fitness standard for service. This creates a shortage of capable animals. Warhound plans to address this issue. The company wants to create dogs suited for demanding missions.

The process involves genetic engineering. Lamm explained how the dogs are made. His team has taken cell lines from top breeds. These include the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. The cells are stored in a biobank. From there, genes can be edited. Some genes are added. Others are removed. The goal is to create a new type of dog. These animals would have better health and performance.

Anduril will handle the equipment. The company plans to provide software and hardware. This includes protection vests and goggles. Lamm described bulletproof vests with sensors. These vests would send data to handlers. This helps with situational awareness. The equipment is for the dog. It is not inside the dog. Lamm said the idea is to make the dog safer. He also said it makes the handler safer.

The timeline for this project is short. The first batch of dogs is being cloned now. Births are expected early next year. Service could begin within two years. Viagen will handle the cloning work. Warhound does not know what the dogs will cost yet. It expects to sell to the Department of Defense. It also plans to sell to police forces.

There are still open questions. The company has not released pricing. It has not confirmed government approval. Warhound is working with the American Humane Society. The group is helping to certify the training program. The Society said it looks forward to helping ensure the animals are treated humanely.