MOSCOW, August 13./ITAR-TASS/. Iskander missile system will not be exported until 2016, an official said on Wednesday.

All potential customers had been informed through the state weapon producer agency Rosoboronexport, said deputy director for import and export department at the Kolomna Machine-Building design bureau (KBM), Georgy Kuzyk.

Supplies of Iskander export version had to be suspended as there was no chance to increase the capacity, he added. “Votkinsk plant is already working at full capacity. The factory manufactures a huge range of products but only several shops produce Iskander,” Kuzyk said.

For the same reason, he added, the KBM could not expand production for the Russian Ministry of Defence.

The design bureau’s Director General Valery Kashin earlier said the plant was ready to export the systems but recommended that foreign customers did not request supplies until 2015. This was due to a long-term contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence that forced the plant to boost output 4-5 times, he said adding the company and Rosoboronexport had already resumed efforts to promote Iskander export.

Kazakhstan was reported to be interested in importing Iskander-M on Monday. Kuzyk said “negotiations are at the initial stage”.