After drones and missiles, Palmer Luckey sets out to build genetically engineered dogs for war

Defense contractor Anduril's Palmer Luckey is moving beyond AI-powered drones. Luckey has co-founded the startup Warhound which plans to genetically engineer dogs for war

In Short

• Initial editing will target inherited conditions including hip dysplasia and poor eyesight
• Biobanked cells from top performers will support cloning through Colossal-owned Viagen
• Anduril will supply protective gear, sensors and situational-awareness tools for handlers

When you think about the future of war, you may picture drones or AI machines taking to the battlefield. But US startup Warhound believes there is another aspect to warfare – genetically modified dogs. And leading this effort is Palmer Luckey, the co-founder of defense contractor Anduril that builds AI-powered drones.

Warhound is a US defence technology startup founded by Luckey and biotech firm Colossal Biosciences’ co-founder. The startup has emerged from stealth – made itself public after working on the project – with $200 million in funding.

The company plans to genetically engineer working dogs for the US military, law enforcement agencies and emergency responders.

The dogs of war?

Warhound says that it wants to develop healthier dogs that can do missions that might be too difficult or complex for humans and machines. This may include bomb detection or search operations.

The company claims that more than 80 per cent of working dogs used by the US military today come from Europe. Many of whom, it says, are not fit for service. As per reports, the acquisition and training process for working dogs takes about three years.

Ben Lamm says that genetic conditions such as poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia and muscle atrophy, prevent many dogs from completing training. In this scenario, Warhound’s genetically modified dogs may help make the US military less dependent on outside sources.

The company says it has collected biological material from top-performing working dogs and placed cell lines in a biobank. It can then use this database to improve health, longevity and performance before cloning the dogs. The breeds will primarily include Belgian Malinois, along with Labrador retrievers and German Shepherds.

Initial gene-editing work will focus on common health conditions such as hip dysplasia. According to Lamm, later work could include incorporating olfactory receptor genes from wolves to enhance the dogs' sense of smell.

While Colossal Biosciences deals with the gene-editing for the dogs, Palmer Luckey’s Anduril will provide software and hardware, including protective vests, eye and ear protection, sensors and situational-awareness tools. These could relay information to handlers and improve coordination during operations. Lamm told TechCrunch that the additions would be placed “on top of the dog, not in the dog.”

When asked if this could mean a future where we see military dogs armed with lasers, Benn Lamm told Wired, “I can’t comment on what Anduril plans.” He added, “Dog safety and performance, and then helping continue helping to improve the human handler and dog bond, and working as a team—that is what the mission is.” He claimed that someone had described the project as “the Captain America dog programme with the Ironman tech programme on top of it.”

Though neither Lamm nor Luckey will manage daily operations at Warhound. Luckey and Anduril hold no equity, while Colossal has an ownership stake and licences its technology to Warhound.

The first puppies from Warhound are expected in early 2027 and could enter service within two years. Warhound has not decided how much it will charge, but expects customers to include the Department of Defense, military units, police forces and first responders. Currently, the Warhound website only shows a small clip of animated dogs with the title, “Proud to Serve. Built for Victory.”

If you are worried about the dogs being modified in a lab, the company says it will work under the guidance of the American Humane Society to certify its training programme and support retired dogs through reunification or adoption programmes.

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