Originally planned as a medium-range nuclear-capable bomber, the Canberra first flew in May 1949. The original design had a crew of two using a radar bombing system, but a third crew member & an optical bomb-aiming system were later added to the design. The Canberra was Britain's first jet bomber & enjoyed a long front-line career; Canberras are still in service today. The aircraft's large wing made it ideal for high-altitude operation, & so the aircraft was produced in several Photographic Reconnaissance variants.

The first Canberra bomber variant was the B.Mk2, which was powered by two 2,948kg (6,500lb) Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3 Mk101 turbojets. After the B.Mk2 (418 built) came several development & specialised aircraft; the B.Mk2E, B.Mk2T, E.Mk15, PR.Mk3, T.Mk4 & B.Mk5. Only the T.Mk4 was produced in significant numbers, 58 were built. Then came the B.Mk6, which was similar to the B.Mk2 but with B.mk5 modifications. The B.Mk6 retained the optical bomb-aiming system of the B.Mk2, & 99 were built. Modifications to the B.Mk6 design resulted in the B(I).Mk6, which had four 20mm guns & underwing pylons for bombs, missiles & rockets; only 22 were built. After the B(I).Mk6 came another group of development & specialised types, including the B.Mk6(Mod) Elint aircraft, B.Mk6(RC) & PR(TT).Mk7.

After these came the PR.Mk7 (75 built), which was similar to the PR.Mk3 except for B.Mk5 improvements. Four PR.Mk7s were converted to PR(TT).Mk7 standard. After the PR.Mk7 came the B(I).Mk8 interdictor variant (69 built), which had weapons capability similar to that of the B(I).Mk6's. It also had a fighter-type canopy offset to port. There were two crew, but there was no ejector seat for the navigator. After this came the PR.Mk9 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, which had two Rolls-Royce Avon Mk206 (RA24) engines, & a canopy similar to that of the B(I).Mk8. Shorts designed & built only 23 PR.Mk9s.

Export of the Canberra was highly successful, & even the US licence built a version of it. Each customer had different needs, so small changes were made to each design to suit the customers' requirements. Export customers included India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Germany, South Africa, Ecuador, Ethiopia & France. Martin was selected to licence build the US versions of the Canberra, which were designated B-57 in USAF service. All of the USAF's B-57s were retired from service in 1982. The Royal Navy also operated Canberras as target tugs.

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