Theatergoers have been fans of the line “Cry ‘Havoc!’, and let slip the dogs of war” since 1599. Now venture capitalists are coming around to the phrase.

A new startup called Warhound has emerged from stealth with $200 million in funding to genetically engineer dogs for the U.S. military and equip them with high-tech gear. Its founders call it a modernization of America’s military working-dog program.

Those founders know more than a bit about both genetic modification and warfare. Warhound was conceived by Colossal co-founder Ben Lamm and Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries and founder of Oculus VR.

Colossal is best known for its ongoing attempts to “de-extinct” several animal species, including the woolly mammoth and the dodo. Anduril has received more than $25 billion in government and defense contracts.

“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. Yet we’re still relying on outdated approaches to breeding and training these extraordinary animals,” Lamm said in a statement.

Warhound is already working on its first batch of genetically modified dogs, collecting blood samples from what it says are top-performing service animals in military, police, and first responder operations. The company plans to clone those dogs and edit their genes to improve their performance.

The first litter of genetically modified puppies, expected in 2027, will consist primarily of Belgian Malinois, Labradors, and shepherds.

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