In early 1918 the British Air Ministry issued an specification for a fighter capable of replacing the Sopwith Snipe and it had to be powered by the 320hp ABC Dragonfly radial engine which was very promising before even any field testing was carried out. In order to meet this specification, Fred Murphy, the head designer of Armstrong Whitworth designed this fighter, with three prototypes being ordered.
It was a two-bay biplane with an square fuselage and the engine covered in a pointed cowling but with the cylinder heads exposed. Upper wing was placed low on purpose in order to give the pilot a better upwards field of view.
Just like the other candidates to replace the Snipe, the Dragonfly engine prooved to be very disappointing when the first prototype was tested in early 1919. However a second prototype was completed and flown before late 1919. It was abandoned towards the end of the year and Armstrong Whitworth's aircraft department closed down.
It was going to be armed with a pair of Vickers 0.303 (7.7mm) Machine guns.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Whitworth_Ara
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
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