The other night I read something that seemed credible, that said that we had backed off of our EMP preparations of the Cold War (some).
I don’t do science or engineering, but I know that we carried radios in the 1980s that some of our allies mocked us for because of the weight, that was because of EMP effects.
Are we weaker or stronger in the military now compared to 1990, in regards to EMP?
I am sure we have effective EMP weapons.
As far as hardening our equipment I suspect it is better.
Early CMOS was extremely succeptible to static discharge. They are diode protected now. And LSI has reduced lead length which presents less to pick up the impulse.
Would there be significant damage to cars and home electrical systems? Probably, but the idea of frying all the cars for 500 miles with one nuke is nonsense.
Fiber optics has helped in hardening phone systems, but they are dependent on commercial power. In the old days they had batter backup. Not that much now. Backup AC generators are the reserve now, it is all computer switching.
I remember seeing the inside of the step x step phone banks in Las Cruces NM. It was amazing. Beautifully loomed wire harnesses with rows and racks of relay stations. Huge. But they worked.
My how things have changed.
Bought them from Fair Radio Sales many years ago.
Also have the little crank generators with the fold out seat. Inside the generator case is a greasy little pouch with parts to rebuild it in the field.
CW and AM HF transceivers...the old AN/GRC-9 used extensively in WW2.