The S.2A was the original Royal Navy S.2 adapted for continuous use from land by the R.A.F. with minor modifications only and with more powerful Rolls Royce Spey engines. A number of S.2A’s were later converted into S.2B’s.

The S.2B was the version exclusively built for the R.A.F. It had a somewhat higher all-up weight, a strengthened undercarriage and an enlarged bomb bay, making a distinctive bulge under the fuselage. It could carry additional fuel in this enlarged bomb bay. Although the catapult hold-back was removed, it still had an arrester hook and folding wings. Most machines could be fitted with four underwing Martel missiles. In total the R.A.F. received 46 machines that were built and delivered between 1973 and 1977. Another three (XZ430 to XZ432) were supplied to the Ministry of Defence for various weapon trials. The S.2C was a small batch of eight S.2B aircraft modified back to S.2A standards for use by the Fleet Air Arm. The S.2D was basically a small batch of nine S.2B for the Fleet Air Arm adapted to be equipped with the Martel.