Impressed by the characteristics of the Hawker Hart light bomber, the Royal Air Force in 1930 ordered Hawker Aircraft to develop a fighter based on it. The aircraft, originally named the Hart Fighter, would later be named the Demon and would be developed in 2 years.
The basic biplane with a non-retractable Hart landing gear was modified — reduced in size, removed the bomb armament and put a more powerful Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIS engine (later replaced by the Kestrel V(DR)). Otherwise, the design remained unchanged. The maximum speed was 293 km/h flight range is 603 km. The armament consisted of 3 × 7.7 mm machine guns + up to 6 light bombs.
The Hawker Demon became an intermediate option before the start of deliveries of more modern fighters in the required number. A total of 304 aircraft were produced. It was also in service with the Royal Australian Air Force. Two fighters have survived to this day.