A newly launched company called Warhound wants to build a force of genetically enhanced working dogs equipped with “cybernetic technology” for the US military. The concept sounds ripped from science fiction, while the practical details and potential benefits remain less clear.

Warhound originated with Colossal Biosciences CEO Ben Lamm and Palmer Luckey, founder of the military technology company Anduril Industries. Colossal is pursuing efforts to de extinct the woolly mammoth, while Anduril specializes in military technology powered by artificial intelligence.

Anduril has been described as one of the technology industry’s most controversial startups because of its close relationship with the US military. In 2018, it accepted a contract supporting Project Maven, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze drone footage and identify military targets after Google withdrew amid employee protests.

Warhound says it plans to use selective breeding, cloning, and other biotechnology to create a “supply of elite working dogs.” Those animals are intended for US military forces, law enforcement agencies, and emergency first response operations.

Teams of handlers and dogs would also receive “cybernetic technology” developed by Anduril. Warhound has not fully explained what that package will include, although its announcement referenced eye and ear protection along with Anduril’s EagleEye system.

EagleEye is a mixed reality platform designed to provide soldiers with battlefield information. Luckey offered a more concise explanation of the idea, saying, "Man's best friend deserves man's best tech.”

Lamm declined to elaborate on Anduril’s plans during an interview with WIRED, but he shared one colorful description of the project. “Someone said, ‘So it's like the Captain America dog program with the Ironman tech program on top of it.’”

Despite the cybernetic branding, Lamm has clarified that the equipment will be wearable and will not involve implants. That distinction leaves Warhound focused on combining biological development with external technology rather than surgically turning military dogs into four legged machines.

The company announced that it has raised $200 million in seed funding from investors that include Sequoia Capital and In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is a venture capital firm founded by the CIA, adding another national security connection to an already military focused venture.

Warhound will be led by CEO David Spirk, who previously held high ranking positions at Palantir and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The company’s leadership and financing place major intelligence and technology names behind its ambitious canine project.

One stated objective is reducing American dependence on Europe for working dogs. The Department of War currently operates more than 2,200 active canine teams for explosive and drug detection, security missions, and specialized operations.

Around 80% of those dogs come from Europe, with Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers making up most of the animals. Warhound calls that supply chain laborious, inefficient, and vulnerable to “geopolitical exposure.”

The company says it intends to “rebuild" a domestic supply of working dogs inside the United States. It has not explained why conventional domestic breeding alone could not address the dependence, leaving the full Captain Fido treatment as a central part of the pitch.

Warhound also claims animal welfare will be a core principle of its work, and the project has received certification from the American Humane Society. Its argument is that dogs better prepared for their assignments may face a lower risk of harm during operations.

"Every day, we ask dogs to put their lives on the line to protect ours. They detect explosives, protect our troops, and run toward dangers that most people are trained to run away from.” commented Lamm.

Lamm said existing methods of breeding and training leave too many dogs unable to complete the process. He argued that Colossal’s work involving genetics, cloning, and animal biology could provide working dogs with better chances for healthy lives and successful missions.

In comments to Screenrant, Lamm said Warhound has already sampled some US military dogs and grown cells from them. The company is editing those cells to target conditions including hip dysplasia and muscle atrophy.

No data has yet been presented showing whether Colossal’s technology can improve those conditions. The wait for the first real test may not be long, however, because Lamm told Screenrant that the first dogs are expected during the first quarter of 2027.