Warhound raises $200mn to clone and gene-edit US military dogs (opens the source in a new tab)
- The FT reports Warhound, conceived by Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey and Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm, has raised $200mn from backers including Sequoia, Ark Invest and the CIA-founded In-Q-Tel to rebuild US supply of military working dogs.
- It plans to clone top dogs and gene-edit them for longevity and performance; Anduril will develop body armour and ‘cybernetics’. Most such dogs now come from European breeders.
- Luckey holds no equity and no daily role; ex-Pentagon data chief David Spirk will run it.
- $200mn
- raised from investors
- $1.2bn
- valuation including the new money, per a source
Why it matters Defence-tech money is now flowing into biology, not just drones. Who sets the ethical rules for editing animals for war is still an open question.
Other side Lamm argues editing is more humane, since many working dogs fail training today. But it is a promise, not a result: edited dogs still have to prove they outperform well-bred ones.