Designed in 1948 as an expendable 7,006 N (1,575 lb) thrust turbojet for the Australian Jindivik target drone and still manufactured in the 1990s, this engine had one of the longest production runs of any turbojet. In 1952 the Viper 5 eliminated expendable features, giving the Royal Air Force the world's first all-through jet training system with the Jet Provosts. Uprated Viper 11's powered the majority of second generation trainer aircraft, such as Jet Provost Mark 4, Italian Macchi MB.326, Jogoslav SOKO Galeb, and Indian HAL HJT-16 Kiran.

The Viper 500, a Viper 11 derivation, was created for business, military trainer and light combat aircraft. The Mk. 601 series was the last having civilian application. In September 1973, this engine was installed on a Beechcraft-Hawker BH 125 Series 600A business aircraft, Ser. No. 256023, N514V. It was removed from service in April 1986 and donated to the National Air and Space Museum in October.