Palmer Luckey Is Launching a Genetically Engineered War Dog Startup

Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defense contractor Anduril, and Colossal Biosciences chief Ben Lamm have launched Warhound, a startup seeking to genetically engineer dogs for military use. The company has raised $200 million in seed funding from investors including 8VC and In-Q-Tel, a firm founded by the CIA. Its plans combine genetic changes intended to improve dogs’ health, longevity, speed, agility, and scent detection with Anduril-developed software and cybernetic equipment for battlefield awareness. Warhound says it hopes to start producing the dogs within two years, although none exist yet. The proposed animals would draw on Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds, breeds already common in military service.

The venture is presented as a response to the military’s dependence on European dog suppliers: the US military uses roughly 1,600 dogs, mostly for detecting explosives and drugs, and Warhound says about 80 percent come from Europe. Fewer than half of dogs entering military training complete it. Lamm’s earlier Colossal project created genetically modified wolves marketed as “dire wolves,” though scientists disputed that they recreated the extinct species. The plan thus raises questions about the gap between genetic engineering claims and results, while extending a broader Silicon Valley push to optimize biology. Its backers also have links to defense and government circles, including CEO David Spirk’s work in military intelligence and at Palantir.