The Royal Navy carried out flight tests of the Nyan uncrewed aerial system from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, BAE Systems announced on 6 November 2026.
Built by Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems, the one-way effector drone completed four launches from the carrier in the North Atlantic during exercise Neptune Reach B. BAE Systems said all four aircraft struck their designated targets. The trials followed an earlier maritime launch from the experimental ship XV Patrick Blackett during exercise Neptune Reach A.
The trials demonstrated that the Nyan system can operate from large naval vessels, supporting the Royal Navy's Hybrid Navy plan to integrate uncrewed systems into the fleet.
Matt Foster, chief executive of Callen-Lenz, said the successful operations show the capability can support future military needs and the navy's hybrid fleet goals.
