Russian company REDNET has unveiled an engineering prototype of a monochrome laser printer powered by a domestically developed microprocessor. The development has the potential to become the first printing device in Russia to be serially produced and centered around a processor that was designed in Russia.
Although attempts to develop similar equipment date back nearly a decade, none of the earlier projects based on Baikal processors progressed to full-scale commercial production. REDNET’s most recent initiative, which involves the microprocessor developer NPC Elvis, has the potential to start a new chapter in Russia’s efforts to establish an independent office printing technology industry.
A New Russian Printer Powered by a Domestic Processor
REDNET disclosed the development of an engineering prototype of a monochrome laser printer that incorporates a Russian processor at the end of September 2026. In its official announcement, the company referred to it as the “First Russian printer powered by a domestically registered processor.”
The defining feature of the development is the integration of a domestic computing platform directly into the printing device. This sets it apart from the majority of Russian printers currently available, where localization efforts predominantly focus on developing circuit boards, software, enclosures, and specific electronic components.
The exact processor model has not been officially disclosed. However, the device might use the K1892VM21Ya, also known as the Gipercom-U system-on-chip, from the Russian semiconductor manufacturer NPC Elvis.
The processor was developed by the Zelenograd-based NPC Elvis and was included in Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade register on March 5, 2026.
Gipercom-U is a multifunctional system-on-chip that has been specifically engineered for computing, communications, and multimedia applications. It has a PowerVR graphics core, ELcore-50 digital signal processors, and four ARM Cortex-A53 cores in its architecture. It also includes hardware capabilities for specialized computing tasks and video processing.
The use of such a processor in a printer is not just important from an import-substitution standpoint. It provides the Russian developer with a more extensive level of control over the computing platform of the device, which includes its hardware architecture and software environment.
Katyusha: Russia’s Earlier Attempt to Develop a Printer Using Baikal
The history of Russian printers that are fueled by domestic processors predates the most recent initiative from REDNET. Servisnye Sistemy, a company within the IT-Systems group, disclosed the development of a Katyusha multifunction printer based on the Baikal-T1 processor in September 2016.
The initiative was identified as an effort to create the first office multifunction device in Russia that was domestically manufactured and featured extensive localization.
The initial concept involved the incorporation of the Russian Baikal-T1 processor, domestic RAM produced by Mikron, and locally sourced consumables. It was anticipated that the Aleksin Chemical Plant would be responsible for the production of printing materials.
The development was intended to be a phased localization program. Initially, the device was to use an imported printhead from the British company Xaar, regarded as one of the most technically challenging components. Later, the developers sought to enhance the proportion of Russian components and manufacturing operations.
The developers reported progress toward a functional prototype in April 2017. Nevertheless, the original objectives to begin industrial production by 2018 were not achieved. As a result, the Katyusha printer, which was based on the Baikal-T1 technology, was never commercially produced in Russia.
Baikal-M Print Servers Were Not Russian Printers
Katyusha IT introduced a secure corporate printing solution in April 2021, which was based on the Baikal-M processor.
Nevertheless, the device was not a standalone printer or multifunction device. Rather, it was a specialized print server that was intended to improve information security, administer corporate printing infrastructure, and control user access.
The hardware platform consisted of the Astra Linux Novorossiysk operating system, an Edelweiss motherboard, and the Baikal-M processor. Additionally, proprietary monitoring and protection software was integrated into the solution.
What Other Russian Manufacturers Offer Today
Printers and multifunction devices that are listed in the domestic industrial products register of the Ministry of Industry and Trade are already supplied by multiple Russian manufacturers. These products are marketed under the Katyusha trademark.
Nevertheless, Russian registration and localized manufacturing do not necessarily imply that all computing components within a device have been developed domestically.
Localization includes proprietary motherboard designs and software solutions in Katyusha’s case. However, the primary computing components of commercially available devices are still specialized processors of foreign origin.
A similar situation exists in the Fplus printing equipment segment. The company is in the process of developing Russian printing products; however, the inclusion of individual motherboards in the Ministry of Industry and Trade register cannot be interpreted as the integration of a processor that is entirely Russian-developed into the printer.
This is the exact point at which REDNET’s undertaking differentiates itself. Its distinguishing feature is the purported use of a Russian microprocessor, rather than the mere localization of assembly and specific electronic components.
What are the specifications of the Russian printer?
REDNET had not yet released comprehensive technical specifications for its engineering prototype as of November 9, 2026.
Nevertheless, the T3310 and T3310V are two A4 monochrome laser printers commercially available, as advertized on the company’s website.
Their external appearance is nearly identical to that of the engineering prototype demonstrated with the NPC Elvis processor. As a result, the specifications of these current models provide a preliminary indication of the potential benefits of the new development.
The T3310 and T3310V provide a resolution of 1200 × 1200 dpi and a printing speed of up to 33 pages per minute. Both devices are equipped with a 280-sheet input receptacle and 512 MB of built-in memory.
Another critical component of the development process is the software platform. Phoenix is the name under which REDNET has developed and certified its proprietary firmware for multifunction devices and printers.
This is a critical component of the localization effort. To mitigate dependence on foreign technology, it is important to develop domestic firmware, as printer administration, job processing, and communication with operating systems necessitate specialized software.