On 5 September 2008, the deputy commander of Russian Naval Aviation Maj.Gen. Nikolai Kuklev, announced that the A-42 is to be adopted as a main SAR and anti-submarine aircraft of the Russian Navy, and a provisional contract for four SAR-outfitted aircraft has been awarded to the company, with deliveries to start in 2010. All four aircraft were expected to be in service by 2013. The aircraft were to replace the Russian Navy's aging fleet of Be-12 and Il-38 currently in service.