Are there weapons that are meant for one thing but could be used for another? Anti-Drone Weapons

Do anti-drone guns use microwave frequencies?

Some anti-drone "guns" (or rifle-like directed energy systems) do use microwave frequencies, but most common handheld or portable anti-drone guns primarily rely on radio frequency (RF) jamming rather than true high-power microwaves.

Anti-drone countermeasures come in several types:

• RF jammers — These are the most widespread "anti-drone guns" (e.g., DroneGun Tactical or similar portable devices). They emit targeted RF signals on common drone control frequencies (like 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, GNSS/GPS bands) to disrupt communication between the drone and its operator or jam navigation, forcing the drone to land, hover, or return home. These operate in the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (microwaves generally span ~300 MHz to 300 GHz), so technically yes, they use microwave frequencies—but at much lower power levels focused on interference rather than destruction.

• High-power microwave (HPM) systems — These are more advanced directed energy weapons that use intense bursts of microwave energy to overload and damage or destroy a drone's electronics (similar to a directed EMP). Examples include:

  • Epirus Leonidas (a portable or vehicle-mounted system capable of taking down swarms by frying circuits).

  • Raytheon Phaser.

  • UK's RapidDestroyer RF directed energy weapon.

  • Others like THOR or experimental Chinese systems.

These explicitly use high-power microwaves (often in GHz ranges) to disable drones at the speed of light, even autonomous ones without radio links. Some are described as "guns" or rifle-like in concept (though many are larger, trailer- or vehicle-based for power needs).

• Everyday commercial/military portable anti-drone guns → usually RF jammers using microwave-band frequencies for disruption.
  

• Advanced HPM anti-drone weapons → yes, they specifically use high-power microwave frequencies for destructive effects.

The term "anti-drone gun" often refers to the jamming variety in common usage, but microwave-based directed energy options are increasingly deployed against drone swarms.