Interfax quotes an industry source as saying that the new-generation geostationary early-warning satellite will not be ready for launch in 2016. According to the report, the satellite is still in production and the manufacturers (RKK Energiya is the lead contractor) are awaiting results of the tests of the first satellite of the EKS system. The satellite, Cosmos-2510, was launched into highly-elliptical orbit in November 2015. According to the Interfax source, two HEO satellites have been manufactured so far, one of them is in orbit.

The Interfax report appeared shortly after other reports suggested that the new early-warning satellite will be launched by a heavy Angara-A5 launcher by the end of 2016. The launcher made its maiden flight (with a satellite mockup) in November 2015. The 2016 Angara-A5 launch would probably still take place, but with a different satellite, Angola's Angosat. The GEO EKS launch, which will probably use Angara-A5 as well, appears to be moved to at least 2017.