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As per the Fortune report, Warhound, a new Texas-based defence startup conceived by Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and Colossal Biosciences CEO Ben Lamm, has emerged from stealth mode with a $200 million seed funding round. More than 80% of U.S. military working dogs are currently sourced from Europe, according to the report. The Pentagon’s Military Working Dog Program operates more than 2,200 dog teams, but finding suitable animals has become increasingly difficult.
Earlier this year, Colossal announced the creation of animals carrying genetic traits inspired by the extinct dire wolf through gene-editing and cloning techniques.
The US military relies heavily on working dogs for missions ranging from explosives detection to security operations, but according to a new Fortune report, America is facing a growing shortage of suitable military canines. However, the company is reportedly exploring a “Canine-as-a-Service” model in which government agencies would pay for a continuous supply of trained and supported working dogs rather than purchasing individual animals. Lamm described the concept as something akin to a “Captain America dog program,” referencing the comic-book super-soldier project that transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America. The idea emerged during a conversation with Luckey at entrepreneur Peter Diamandis’ Moonshots Summit, where the two discussed military dog shortages, high training failure rates and growing procurement costs, according to Lamm.
Now, a new defence technology startup backed by prominent Silicon Valley investors believes it has a solution: genetically engineered, cloned military dogs equipped with advanced protective gear and integrated with battlefield technologies. The company aims to use cloning and gene-editing technologies to create healthier, more capable working dogs while reducing the U.S. military’s dependence on European breeders. Lamm’s confidence in the project stems from technology developed at Colossal Biosciences, the company known for its high-profile de-extinction efforts. Warhound has not yet secured official customers and has not disclosed pricing.