UK launches strike drone from experimentation ship at sea

July 3, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The Royal Navy has launched a strike-capable drone from its experimentation ship XV Patrick Blackett, during recent trials off the south coast of England.

As informed, the navy sailors worked with the British Army colleagues. Already tested extensively during land exercises, the autonomous drone Nyan One Way Effector (OWE) was taken to sea to explore how it could be operated from a ship.

The Nyan OWE, designed and built by BAE Systems’ entity Callen-Lenz, is a small uncrewed aircraft with a 2.9-metre wingspan, designed to provide a precision strike capability.

Pre-programmed to fly to a specific target, the system was flown from a launcher installed on the ship’s deck.

The drone and launcher combination were used by the Army recently in Estonia during Exercise Spring Storm to support NATO allies in a series of real-life scenarios.

The trials are part of the tri-service Project Vantage to rapidly test and deliver Maritime One-Way Effectors as the Royal Navy continues its move to a hybrid force, using uncrewed equipment alongside traditionally-crewed warships and units.

Personnel from 26 Royal Artillery and 744 Naval Air Squadron worked alongside the ship’s company of Patrick Blackett to deliver the trials.

Credit: Royal Navy

The team launched and flew the drone while the ship was underway, setting the conditions for further experimentation and potential future deployment across the fleet, according to the navy.

The Royal Navy Capability team and the Air and Space Warfare Centre are now analysing the results, with the potential for further trials aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The trials demonstrate progress on capabilities backed by the Defence Investment Plan, which commits over £5 billion to drone and autonomous systems – including new classes of uncrewed naval vessels designed to operate alongside crewed warships as part of a fully integrated Hybrid Navy.

UK scaling up for a new kind of warfare, with £298 billion poured into defense

Authorities

“Britain is serious about the transition to a Hybrid Navy with new, powerful drones at the heart of the Royal Navy. By bringing together Army and Navy expertise to field strike drones from a ship at sea, we are accelerating the capabilities our forces need to stay ahead of our adversaries,” Minister for Defense Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard commented.

“This trial makes a significant step forward in delivering Maritime One-Way Effectors at pace. Under Project Vantage we are planning to integrate these capabilities into the Hybrid Navy, combining crewed platforms with uncrewed systems to expand reach, increase tempo and enhance lethality,” Lieutenant Commander David Burton, Maritime One Way Effectors capability sponsor, added.

“Working closely with our Army colleagues, this activity demonstrates how we are accelerating Atlantic Strike concepts into practical, deployable capabilities of the Fleet.”