Royal Navy trials ship XV Patrick Blackett conducts Nyan OWE launch, autonomy, and C-UAS trials

Callen-Lenz Nyan OWE displayed on the aft deck of XV Patrick Blackett . (Janes/Neil Dee)

The UK Royal Navy (RN) has successfully conducted a one-way effector (OWE) launch, degree four autonomy trials, and counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) tests on the trials ship XV Patrick Blackett .

Along with the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) plenary meeting, held in Portsmouth on Tuesday 23 June 2026, Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Dan Phipps, Experimentation Operator on Patrick Blackett , confirmed that a Callen-Lenz Nyan OWE had been launched from the ship in the Lulworth area off Portland.

CPO Phipps said the OWE was launched from a Threod Cata launcher which was embarked on Patrick Blackett's working deck. Nyan followed a flight profile that was set from the ship's bridge before ditching into the sea as planned. The trials, undertaken in early June, were conducted with 26 Regiment Royal Artillery (RA) and 744 Naval Air Squadron (NAS).

The Nyan launch was to provide a proof of concept, CPO Phipps told Janes during a media briefing, that a ship (such as Patrick Blackett ) with enough deck space can easily be launch such UAVs. CPO Phipps added that the only craft that would likely be precluded in this regard are the RN's Archer (P2000)-class patrol boats. The trial also sought to prove that the OWE could be launched at sea with conditions such as pitch and roll needing to be taken into account. Nyan was first revealed by the British Army during a demonstration in Estonia in May 2026. In June 2026 Callen-Lenz confirmed to Janes that the Nyan was in active operational use.

Recent trials undertaken by