English Electric Canberra - Variants

Variants

See Martin B-57 Canberra article for the US-built variants.

English Electric A.1

Company designation for the first four aircraft before being named Canberra.

Canberra B Mk.1

Prototypes for type development work and research at first known by the company designation A.1, four built.

Canberra B Mk.2

First production version, crew increased to three with addition of bomb aimer, Avon R.A.3 engines with 6,500 lbf (28.91 kN) of thrust, wingtip fuel tanks. 418 built by English Electric (208), Avro (75), Handley Page (75) and Short Brothers & Harland (60) including eight for export (Australia, United States and Venezuela).

Canberra PR Mk.3

Photo-reconnaissance version of B2, it had a 14 inch section added to the fuselage to house the camera bay, internal fuel was increased and flat panel in the nose was removed. Needed only two crew. The prototype was flown on 19 March 1950 and the variant entered service in 1953.

Canberra T Mk.4

First trainer variant with dual controls and a crew of three.

Canberra B Mk.5

Prototype of second-generation Canberra with fuel tanks in the wings and Avon R.A.7 engines with 7,490 lbf (33.32 kN) of thrust, one built.

Canberra B Mk.6

Production version based on B5 with a 1 ft (0.3 m) fuselage stretch, 106 built by English Electric (57) and Short Brothers & Harland (49), includes 12 for export.

Canberra B6(RC)

RC = Radio Countermeasures (also known as B6(Mod) or PR16) - Specialist ELINT version with enlarged nose and Blue Shadow Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR). Only four produced, extended nose.

Canberra B(I) Mk.6

Interim interdictor version for the RAF pending delivery of the B(I)8. Based on B6 with a detachable ventral pack housing four 20 mm Hispano cannon for strafing; also had provision for two wing hard points. LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System) for delivery of nuclear bombs. 22 produced.

Canberra PR Mk.7

Photo-reconnaissance version based on B6, had similar equipment to the PR3 but had the uprated Avon 109 engines of the B6 and increased internal fuel capacity, 74 built.

Canberra B(I) Mk.8

Third-generation Canberra derived from B6 as an interdictor. Fitted with a new forward fuselage with teardrop canopy on the port side, and Navigator station forward of pilot (early marks had the navigator behind the pilot. Provision for a ventral pack similar to the B(I)6 with 4 x 20 mm Hispano cannon, one external hardpoint under each wing for up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs or unguided rockets, LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System) for delivery of nuclear bombs. Prototype converted from the only B5 and first flown 23 July 1954, 72 built including 17 for export and two converted from B2s.

Canberra PR Mk.9

Photo-reconnaissance version based on B(I)8 with fuselage stretched to 68 ft (27.72 m), wingspan increased by 4 ft (1.22 m), and Avon R.A.27 (Avon 206) engines with 10,030 lbf (44.6 kN) of thrust. Had the offset canopy of the B(I)8 with a hinged nose to allow fitment of an ejection seat for the navigator. A total of 23 built by Short Brothers & Harland with three transferred to Chile after the Falklands War.

Canberra U10 (later designated D10)

Remote-controlled target drones converted from B2. 18 converted.

Canberra T11

Nine B2s converted to trainers for pilots and navigators of all-weather interceptors to operate the Airborne Intercept radar, crew of four.

Canberra B(I) Mk.12

Canberra B(I)8 bombers built for New Zealand and South Africa.

Canberra T Mk.13

Training version of the T4 for New Zealand, one built new and one conversion from T4.

Canberra U Mk.14 (later designated D14)

Remote-controlled target drones converted from the B2 for Royal Navy. Six converted.

Canberra B Mk.15

Upgraded B6 for use in the Far and Near East with underwing hardpoints for 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs or rockets. New avionics and fitting of three cameras, 39 conversions.

Canberra B Mk.16

Similar to B15 for use in Germany and fitted with Blue Shadow, 19 conversions

Canberra T Mk.17

Electronic warfare training variant used to train surface-based radar and missile operators and airborne fighter and Airborne Early Warning crews in handling jamming (including chaff dropping) aircraft. 24 conversions from B2 with extended nose for sensors.

Canberra T Mk.17A

Updated version of the T17 with improved navigation aids, a spectrum analyser in place of the previously fitted AN/APR-20, and a powerful communications jammer.

Canberra TT Mk.18

Target tug conversion of B2 for the Royal Navy, 22 conversions.

Canberra T Mk.19

T11 with radar removed as silent target.

Canberra B Mk.20

B2 with additional fuel tanks in the wings, licence-built in Australia.

Canberra T Mk.21

Trainers converted from B2 and B20.

Canberra T Mk.22

Conversion of the PR7 for Royal Navy's Fleet Requirement and Air Direction Unit, used for training Buccaneer navigators.

Canberra B Mk.52

Refurbished B2 bombers sold to Ethiopia.

Canberra Mk.56

Refurbished B(I)6 bombers sold to Peru.

Canberra PR Mk.57

Tropicalized PR7 for India.

Canberra B(I) Mk.58

Tropicalized B(I)8 for India.

Canberra B Mk.62

10 refurbished B2 bombers sold to Argentina.

Canberra T Mk.64

2 refurbished T4 trainers sold to Argentina.

Canberra B(I) Mk.66

10 refurbished B(I)6 bombers sold to India.

Canberra PR Mk.67

2 refurbished PR7s sold to India.

Canberra Mk.68

1 refurbished B(I)8 bomber sold to Peru.

Canberra B Mk.92

1 modified B2 for Argentina, not delivered and embargoed in 1982.

Canberra T Mk.94

1 modified T4 for Argentina, not delivered and embargoed in 1982.

Short SC.9

1 Canberra PR9 rebuilt by Shorts fitted with an AI.23 radar, plus IR installation in the nose for Red Top air-to-air missile trials. Continued in use for radar missile development work.

Short SD.1

1 Canberra PR3 modified to carry two Short SD.2 variants of the Beech AQM-37A high-speed target missiles for trials by the Royal Aircraft Establishment.