Like many de Havilland aircraft, the Venom was originally developed as a private venture. Flight trials of the Venom in 1950 indicated that it handled well but had a poor rate of role. The Venom had no provision for emergency escape, but nevertheless went into production in 1952 at Chester. The original Venom was based on the Vampire Mk8, but with a Ghost engine instead of the Mk8's Goblin, a larger, thinner wing with 355 litre (78 Imperial Gal.) wing-tip fuel-tanks & several other improvements.

Production of the NF.Mk2 night fighter (the only night fighter variant of the Venom) amounted to 60 aircraft in three different versions; the basic Mk2, the Mk2A with a modified tail & clear-view canopy, & the Mk51 version supplied to the Royal Swedish Air Force. Before the NF.Mk2 came the FB.Mk1 fighter-bomber, which did not have swept wings. This lack of swept wings put the FB.Mk1 at a severe deficit, & the type was delivered only in small quantities. The FB.Mk1 was developed into the more advanced FB.Mk4, which incorporated an ejector seat  & better control surfaces. The FB.Mk4 was much more popular than its predecessor, & special licence-built versions of the FB.Mk1 & FB.Mk4 were built by the EFW consortium in Switzerland, which completed 250 of the aircraft.

Venom NF.Mk 2A

Type: Two-seat night fighter

Powerplant: one 2,245kg (4,950lb) de Havilland Ghost 104 turbojet

Performance: Max. speed 1,013km/h (630mph); Service ceiling 15,000m (49,200ft); Range 1,610km (1,000 miles)

Dimensions: Wingspan 12.70m (41ft 8in); Length 11.17m (36ft 8in); Height 1.98m (6ft 6in); Wing area 24.32m² (262ft²)

Weights: Empty 4,000kg (8,800lb); Loaded 7,166kg (15,800lb)

Armament: four 20mm Hispano cannon

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