A British-built biplane fighter, used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) (as the Sea Gladiator variant), it was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft.  It was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs. Though often pitted against more formidable foes during the early days of World War II, it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat.