The Royal Navy and British Army have for the first time extensively tested the Nyan one-way effector (OWE) produced by BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz, the company announced on 3 July 2026.

Designed for use in both maritime and land operations, the Nyan OWE is a small unmanned aerial vehicle with a 2.9 m wingspan that is designed to provide a precision strike capability.

BAE Systems noted that in early July the Nyan OWE was launched from the Royal Navy’s experimentation ship XV Patrick Blackett off the south coast of England during Exercise ‘Neptune Reach’, which saw the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force working together under Project Vantage: a programme focused on accelerating the test and evaluation of maritime attack drones. The trials saw a launch system capable of launching OWE drones at up to 55 m/s fitted to the ship’s deck to test how the Nyan could best be operated from a moving naval platform.

Personnel from 26 Royal Artillery and 744 Naval Air Squadron worked alongside the ship’s company of Patrick Blackett to deliver the trials. The team successfully launched and flew the drone while the ship was underway, setting the conditions for further experimentation and potential future deployment across the fleet.

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

In May the army operated the Nyan with its launcher during Exercise ‘Spring Storm’ in Estonia as part of the UK’s deep fire capability in support of NATO allies.

In a 3 July Royal Navy press release Lieutenant Commander David Burton, the navy’s Maritime One Way Effectors capability sponsor, was quoted as stating of the Exercise ‘Neptune Reach’ event, “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.

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

Matt Foster, CEO of Callen-Lenz, was quoted by BAE Systems as stating, “Nyan is already operationally proven on land, with more than 1,000 units produced. Now it has successfully demonstrated its ability to add real value in a maritime environment too. These trials reflect strong collaboration across the services and industry, highlighting the pace at which we can deliver innovation to advance the UK’s integrated, multi-domain defence capability.”

Based in Wiltshire, Callen-Lenz was founded in 2007, initially as an aviation consultancy before becoming increasingly involved in the development of unmanned aerial systems. The company was acquired by BAE Systems in May 2024 and absorbed into the air sector of FalconWorks: BAE Systems’ advanced research and development hub.