The A.W.23 was designed by John Lloyd, chief designer of Armstrong Whitworth to meet this specification, competing with the Handley Page H.P.51 and the Bristol Bombay.
A bomber aircraft called the A.W.23 was created by John Lloyd, head designer at Armstrong Whitworth, in response to this need, pitting it against the Handley Page H.P.51 and the Bristol Bombay.