The type performed several military roles, including mine countermeasures, fisheries protection, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, border patrol, naval surveillance, and transport duties; a civilian version was also developed.

[5] According to the British Hovercraft Corporation, military BH.7 models were capable of performing various coastal security missions, including smuggler interdiction, search and rescue operations, border patrol, naval surveillance, all with a greater degree of mobility and speed than conventional alternatives.

During 1968, it was announced that plans for a version of the BH.7 for the British Army had been terminated; this cancellation heavily impacted the company's design team, as it had coincided with a separate government decision to halt work on a feasibility study into developing large ocean-going hovercraft.

Such moves did not led to a complete elimination of state support from the venture as the Ministry of Technology had placed an order for a single BH.7, which greatly facilitated the launch of a Navy-orientated version.

[4] In a military context, payloads could alternatively consist of palletised freight, up to six M101 howitzers or three Ferret armoured cars; a maximum of 92 fully-equipped troops could be transported by a single BH.7.

[9] The BH.7 featured an integrated lift-and-propulsion system, which was powered by a Bristol Proteus gas turbine engine, capable of generating a maximum of 4,250 hp.

[10][9] To improve engine reliability, considerable research went into the adoption of new materials with greater resistance to corrosion even in salty environments.

To increase the time between maintenance intervals, most of the materials used throughout the craft are corrosion-resistant; the structure is largely composed of reinforced plastics.

It was trialled in a number of different roles from 1970 until 1983, including mine countermeasures, fisheries protection, and anti-submarine warfare, typically operating from RNAS Portland but also performing several overseas deployments as well;[14] these tests helped the Royal Navy to determine its hovercraft requirements.

[17] Following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Iran became unable to acquire spare components and support from overseas due to the enactment of several trade embargoes; however, it has been able to continue to operate its hovercraft fleet.