Russia is in the process of introducing its first serial lithography machine that was developed domestically into commercial operation, which is a major milestone in the nation’s endeavor to reestablish an indigenous semiconductor-equipment industry. The first serial “Progress STP-350” is scheduled to be delivered to Mapper, a Moscow-based company, in December 2026. A second machine is planned for “Industry Solutions,” a subsidiary of the Element group.
The Zelenograd Nanotechnology Center (ZNTC) developed the new system for semiconductor production at the 350-nanometer technology node in collaboration with the Belarusian company Planar. Although 350 nm is less advanced than current semiconductor processes, it remains essential for various industrial electronics, power devices, automotive components, and specialized sensors.
First Serial Machines Head to Russian Customers
The planned December delivery is more than just the arrival of another piece of factory equipment. The objective is to illustrate that Russia has transitioned from laboratory development to the serial production of lithography systems.
Mapper, the first client, is affiliated with the Rostec state corporation via the Shvabe holding. Industry Solutions, which is a member of the Element group, is planned to receive the second serial system. Therefore, the two installations will be integrated into organizations that are associated with the domestic microelectronics ecosystem of Russia.
The basic version of the Progress STP-350 is priced at approximately 392 million rubles, excluding VAT, according to information that was published in the Russian press on September 11, 2026. A version that includes a five-year warranty and expanded service support is priced at approximately 561 million rubles. The manufacturing lead time is approximately 18 months, as reported.
In addition, the machine has been registered in Russia’s state register of industrial equipment under the designation RAVC.442174.002TU, which may provide it with an advantage in the procurement process by state-owned enterprises.
A 350-nm Stepper With 200-mm Wafer Capability
The Progress STP-350 is a projection stepper that transfers the pattern from a photomask to a semiconductor substrate. The exposure field measures 22 by 22 millimeters, and the process resolution is 350 nm, as stated.
The equipment is more appropriate for mature-node semiconductor manufacturing than for cutting-edge logic production, as it can process wafers with diameters of up to 200 mm.
The use of a solid-state laser as the light source, as opposed to a conventional mercury lamp, is one of its most noteworthy attributes. This method is designed to improve energy efficiency and deliver increased power, as indicated by the specifications that have been provided.
The reported throughput reaches 63 150-mm wafers per hour, while production using 200-mm wafers can reach approximately 43 wafers per hour. These figures are of particular significance because lithography equipment must be capable of delivering a sufficient throughput while maintaining a high level of resolution in order to be effective in volume manufacturing.
Why 350 Nanometers Still Matters
The significance of the machine cannot be judged simply by comparing 350 nm with the latest semiconductor technologies. Large number of the global electronics industry are still sustained by mature process nodes.
The 350-nm class is appropriate for a variety of applications, such as automotive electronics, industrial control systems, power electronics, and MEMS devices. It is also applicable for the development of infrared detector technologies and specialized optoelectronic components.
This renders the technology strategically important for Russia, where the demand exceeds that of smartphone processors and advanced computing chips. Large quantities of mature-node semiconductor components are necessary for industrial equipment, vehicles, energy systems, sensors, control electronics, and defense-related systems.
It is reported that the first customer will operate clean-room facilities spanning approximately 1,500 square meters, process up to 5,000 semiconductors annually, and participate in a Russian Industry and Trade Ministry project that is focused on the serial production of infrared detectors. This provides a potential immediate application for the new lithography capability.
Russia Seeks To Close A Critical Equipment Gap
Lithography is one of the most challenging components of semiconductor manufacturing to replicate domestically due to the combination of precision optics, illumination systems, mechanical positioning, control electronics, and specialized software.
The global market has been dominated by companies from a limited number of countries for decades. Lithography systems that encompass both mature and more advanced semiconductor processes have been supplied by Japan’s Canon and Nikon, the Netherlands’ ASML, and an increasing number of Chinese equipment manufacturers.
Canon, for instance, manufactures i-line systems that operate within the 365-nm wavelength for applications such as LED manufacturing and MEMS. Nikon also offers mature-node stepper systems, while ASML provides equipment for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers have been in the process of developing and commercializing systems that are specifically designed for power-electronics applications, which involve materials such as gallium nitride and silicon carbide.
In light of this, the Progress STP-350’s introduction provides Russia with a domestic alternative for a category of lithography equipment that is strategically significant, despite not being at the forefront of technology.
The Bigger Target Is 130 Nanometers
The 350-nm machine is therefore better understood as one stage in a broader technology roadmap rather than the final objective.
Russia has announced that a domestic lithography system of the next iteration, capable of producing 130-nm chips, is expected to be implemented in 2027. The range of semiconductor applications that could be addressed domestically would be substantially expanded by transitioning from 350 nm to 130 nm.
This transition would also evaluate the Russian-Belarusian development partnership’s capacity to expand its capabilities in manufacturing, precision mechanics, optics, and exposure systems.
However, semiconductor self-sufficiency does not start solely with the production of the smallest transistor feasible. It is also contingent upon the availability of dependable domestic equipment to manufacture the extensive selection of mature-node processors that are essential for the operation of industrial electronics, power systems, vehicles, and factories. The Progress STP-350 is specifically designed to address that segment of the semiconductor supply chain. The 130-nm machine that is in the works indicates that Russia views it as the commencement of a more extensive lithography program, rather than an endpoint.