In 1933 three Fury I's were ordered for the Portuguese Arma de Aeronautica (Army Air Force) with the first flight taking place on May 28, 1934. The three aircraft were numbered 50 - 52 and were delivered in June 1934. The Portuguese had ordered the aircraft with Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIS engines de-rated to give longer patrol endurance. The Fury's participated in the Lisbon Aero Shows of 1935 and 1936. The last Portuguese Fury was shot down at sea in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.
The first flight of the Hawker Fury I took place in March 1931. Because of the Great Depression and the high cost of the Fury only 118 were produced for the RAF. It was the first RAF operational aircraft to exceed 200 mph in level flight. In May 1931 No. 43 Squadron was the first to receive the new aircraft. Starting in 1936 five RAF squadrons received the new improved Fury II. Seven foreign air forces ordered the Fury II. In 1939 the RAF Furys were replaced by Gladiators and Hurricanes.