A Russian firm has frozen construction of a laptop factory in Yekaterinburg. It will make drone simulators for schoolchildren instead.

LIGA Group, a Russian electronics manufacturer and software developer, has halted the construction of a laptop factory in Yekaterinburg. The company's General Director, Alexey Lezhnin, revealed the decision to the Russian business outlet RBC. The factory, set to open at the Kosmos industrial park in 2027, was put on hold due to Karat, the park's main microchip plant, not yet beginning operations.

Lezhnin also cited Russia's unfavorable economic conditions, noting that domestic laptop manufacturers are struggling in the current situation. Consequently, LIGA Group will now focus on building drone-piloting simulators for schoolchildren. The investment in this new project is estimated to be "tens of millions of rubles," with the company expecting to recoup the funds within two to three years.

Lezhnin announced that the company will release the first version of the software product by the end of this year. Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, had proposed introducing drone-piloting courses in schools as early as April 2023. In mid-2026, the Education Ministry drafted an order to divide the subject "Fundamentals of Safety and Defense of the Homeland" into two mandatory courses: "Life Safety" and "Basic Military Training." This draft order is set to take effect on September 1 and will include training in drone operation.