In the future the engine is expected to become a workhorse in the Russian space sector, as older launch vehicles are phased out of production and service.

Burn ignition is provided chemically, by feeding a starter fluid into the combustion chamber and gas generator, which is self-igniting on contact with liquid oxygen.

A Cardan suspension provides for yaw and pitch controls by gimballed thrust deflection up to 8 degrees.

[13] Two engines are used on the first stage of each 200-series Antares, which is currently used to carry cargo to the International Space Station under contract to NASA.

On 19 February 2015, Orbital ATK said that its revamped Antares rocket featuring a new main engine would make its first launch in March 2016.

Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (formerly Orbital) modified the core stage to accommodate the increased performance, and then to finish up its CRS-1 cargo contract commitment to NASA for delivering a total of 20,000 kg (44,000 lb) of cargo in only four additional flights, rather than the five more that would have been required with the AJ-26/Antares combination.

[21][22] In 2022, Russia suspended engine deliveries to the United States as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Northrop Grumman cancelled the remainder of the contract in favor of moving away from the RD-181.