Royal Navy launches strike drones from HMS Queen Elizabeth for first time

The Royal Navy has launched one-way strike drones from an aircraft carrier for the first time, sending four Nyan Maritime drones from the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth during trials in the North Atlantic in mid-October 2026.

According to BAE Systems, whose subsidiary Callen-Lenz designs and builds the drone, all four Nyans reached their designated strike points during Exercise Neptune Reach B.

Nyan is a small uncrewed aircraft with a 2.9-meter (approximately 9.5-foot) wingspan, designed for precision strikes, according to BAE Systems. The Royal Navy refers to the trial version as Nyan Maritime.

From experimental ship to aircraft carrier

The carrier launches follow Nyan’s first launch at sea from the experimental vessel XV Patrick Blackett off the south coast of England in July 2026.

Known as Neptune Reach A, the earlier demonstration involved personnel from 26 Regiment Royal Artillery and 744 Naval Air Squadron. The drone was launched from a deck-mounted launcher while the vessel was underway.

Both Neptune Reach A and Neptune Reach B form part of Project Vantage, a joint Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force initiative aimed at accelerating the testing and deployment of maritime strike drones.

Tekever AR5 completes carrier takeoffs and landings

A Tekever AR5 uncrewed aircraft prepares to land on HMS Queen Elizabeth during Heavy Lift Challenge 3 in October 2026. (Credit: Royal Navy)

HMS Queen Elizabeth also hosted Heavy Lift Challenge 3, during which a Tekever AR5 fixed-wing drone operated from a Royal Navy aircraft carrier for the first time.

The AR5 has a seven-meter (approximately 23-foot) wingspan and can carry a payload of up to 80 kilograms (approximately 176 pounds), according to the Royal Navy.

Tekever said the AR5 departed from its flight operations center in Atouguia da Baleia, Portugal, and flew for approximately 90 minutes to reach HMS Queen Elizabeth.

After reaching the carrier, the AR5 completed two landings and two takeoffs from its flight deck before making the two-hour return flight to Portugal. The exercise explored the potential use of carrier-based drones for logistics, sustainment and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions.

The AR5 has already secured another role in the British armed forces. In July 2026, the UK Ministry of Defence selected the type to replace the British Army’s Watchkeeper drones under Project Corvus, with a contract worth up to £400 million (approximately $535 million) subsequently awarded to Tekever in September 2026.

Royal Navy advances hybrid carrier air wing plans

A Nyan Maritime strike drone positioned on its launch ramp aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth ahead of trials in the North Atlantic in October 2026. (Credit: Royal Navy)

The Royal Navy sees the Nyan and AR5 demonstrations as steps toward a hybrid carrier air wing, combining uncrewed aircraft with crewed platforms such as the F-35B fighter.

Its ambitions also extend to autonomous rotorcraft, including the Leonardo Proteus demonstrator, which completed its maiden flight in January 2026.

The service has linked these developments to the Defence Investment Plan published on June 30, 2026, which commits more than £5 billion (approximately $6.7 billion) to autonomous systems by 2030.

That includes almost £250 million (approximately $334 million) for Project Pantheon, an initiative to develop the hybrid carrier air wing and test jet-powered drones alongside F-35B fighters.

At least £210 million (approximately $281 million) is also earmarked for low-cost, long-range one-way attack drones that could be deployed across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

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