In a War with Drones and Hypersonic Missiles, Russia Turns to a 150-Year-Old Technology: Morse Code

Russia is using Morse code to send messages to its troops in the Baltic. In a hyper-technological war, this 150-year-old communication method still makes sense.

Modern warfare involves drones, advanced computing systems, and artificial intelligence. A few years ago, we witnessed a leap forward with the deployment of weapons and systems on the battlefield at an unprecedented scale. Today, we talk about autonomous submarines, drones that can mimic fleets of ships to confuse radars, laser weapons, and even space warfare. However, in the Ukraine conflict, Russia is still using something as archaic as Morse code. Amid technological warfare, it remains relevant.

Rewinding to the 19th Century

In the early 19th century, advancements in electromagnetic telegraphy enabled the transmission of electric pulses along wires. Early operators had to monitor electrical impulses and write down the messages. In 1837, painter Samuel Morse, physicist Joseph Henry, and engineer Alfred Vail developed an electric telegraph that recorded a system of dots and dashes on a tape. Initially, operators focused on written messages, but soon realized that the device made sounds as it marked the tape. Short pulses were called ‘dit’ and long pulses or dashes were ‘dah’. Operators found it easier to decode the audible code, leading to the optimization of this language.

World War II

Radiotelegraphy was, and still is, a versatile system requiring minimal energy to function over long distances. Its crucial role was evident in both World Wars. It was primarily used to send messages between naval bases and warships, and also among ships. Radio communication was unprotected and archaic, making Morse code vital for encrypted messages. Besides ship communications, it was used for long-distance messages with aircraft. By the 21st century, Morse code fell out of general use but remains in limited official capacities.

Russia in Ukraine

This brings us to the current, highly technological war involving multiple fronts worldwide. One such front is Eastern Europe, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this…