Operating in the North Atlantic, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier launched Nyan one-way attack drones from its deck, while a Tekever AR5 ISR and logistics UAV proved its ability to land on the carrier.
In two different exercises, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) added two new types of uncrewed aircraft to its potential arsenal.
Exercise Neptune Reach B, an element of Project VANTAGE, saw four Callen-Lenz Nyan one-way effector (OWE) strike drones rail-launched from the deck of the aircraft carrier towards a pre-programmed target area at sea where they were then intentionally ditched. The exercise builds on the earlier Neptune Reach A launch from Royal Navy trials vessel XV Patrick Blackett in June 2026.
The goal of a Hybrid Navy is another step closer thanks to two milestones on @HMSQNLZ.
A Nyan effector strike drone has been launched from a UK aircraft carrier for the first time.
The ship also landed and launched a Tekever AR5 multi-role drone.
🔗 https://t.co/uma9FOhwZL https://t.co/UeXOXTaZhZ
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) November 5, 2026
The Nyan, built by BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz, has a wingspan of 2.9 metres and is powered by a ‘microturbine’ jet engine. In a February 2026 direct award contract notice, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) noted it as the only off-the-shelf product of its type registered with the UK Military Aircraft Register, stating: “it is the only feasible option to bring into service in the near term on the grounds of safety and legality”.
Callen-Lenz CEO Matt Foster said previously that over 1,000 units have been produced, and the drone has been fielded for land-based trials by British Army units in Estonia. On the occasion of this latest success, Foster added: “The successful operation of Nyan from HMS Queen Elizabeth provides another proof-point of how this capability can support future force development and the evolution of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid navy. As operational requirements evolve, we continue to invest in uncrewed systems that can provide affordable, scalable combat mass and increase the impact of existing capabilities.”
Fast. Precise. Adaptive🚀
The NYAN one-way attack drone is used for the first time by UK Forward Land Forces – enhancing precision fires for 26 Royal Artillery⬇️ https://t.co/fOL75xG4MI
— BFBS Forces News (@ForcesNews) May 29, 2026
A much larger drone, with a wingspan of just over 7 metres and a payload of 80 kilograms, came in the form of Tekever’s AR5 platform, which landed aboard the Queen Elizabeth as part of Heavy Lift Challenge 3. Previous stages of the Heavy Lift Challenge notably involved the Windracers Ultra and the Malloy T-150, both of which have since operated from the deck of a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.
The AR5 has been selected by the British Army as the replacement for the Watchkeeper in the intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) role, and the Royal Artillery has now started receiving deliveries of the aircraft.
The battlefield is changing.
So are we.
The Royal Artillery is taking delivery of its new fleet of the TEKEVER AR5s, a long-endurance surveillance drone capable of delivering vital intelligence across the battlespace and helping commanders see, understand, and act first.
This capability has been made possible through a fantastic partnership with the UK team at TEKEVER, helping ensure we remain a future-focused regiment, building for tomorrow’s battlefield today.
Our adversaries must not move faster than our innovation. The AR5 is another step in making sure they don’t.
This is what a modern Gunner regiment looks like.
Join us.
https://t.co/AQmNZmc4IM
— Royal Artillery (@royalartillery1) November 1, 2026
Still relatively new to the market, the AR5’s capabilities are actively being expanded. Alongside standard intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) duties, the AR5 may soon boast an anti-submarine warfare capability. Given the company’s success in securing the British Army order, there are undoubtedly strong hopes that the AR5 will attract interest from the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force (who operate the smaller Tekever AR3 as StormShroud).
Fighting for Headlines
While the Nyan strike drones will likely lead the headlines, the Tekever AR5 would appear to be the more interesting development. As many will undoubtedly argue, the Nyan’s launch rail system means the expansive deck of an aircraft carrier is not strictly necessary. Nyan effectors could instead be deployed from much smaller ships, although in a pinch the carriers would of course maintain the ability to do so – but this is a known capability, with high speed jet-powered rail launched drones flying from the decks as early as 2021.
A flight into the the future!
We’ve conducted the first jet drone launches from a @RoyalNavy ship!
An @HMSPWLS & @QinetiQ team collaboration to successfully launch the #Banshee.
🚢🛫🕹
#PWLSatSea #Wholeforce #NATO https://t.co/io9iWgE4W1
— HMS Prince of Wales (@HMSPWLS) September 29, 2021
With the AR5 proving its carrier compatibility, the Royal Navy has taken a sizeable practical step towards the beginnings of a very achievable form of a hybrid air wing, and these sorts of steps couldn’t come soon enough. Availability of the air wing’s crewed elements have faced scrutiny, while the Merlin Crowsnest airborne early warning capability is still – as far as is currently known – due to be withdrawn in 2029.
Tekever AR5s, and a number of platforms like it, could be ordered now and delivered in relatively short form, granting a whole extra air wing element able to be drawn upon for operations without any significant development.
Under Project VANQUISH, the Royal Navy still aims to see a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) demonstrator take-off from one of its carrier decks within the next 1-2 years (timeframe given in June 2026 as 18 months). However, the adoption of a fully combat capable CCA could still be many years down the road.
