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Question:

In view of the EMP technology that some countries have, why can't we harden electrical lines and equipment?

For civilian populations as well as the military? Why is our government not doing enough to protect civilian populations in this country?

Answer:

First of all, the cost of producing an EMP weapon that could effectively disrupt equipment in an area larger than a few square meters would be astronomical. Second, it would be much more effective to initiate a cyber attack which could produce exponentially more damage than an electical magnetic pulse. Third, electrical lines generate significant amounts of EMI and EMF so it really is not necessarry to harden them. It wouldn't really proctect them, they don't need it. By harden I assume you mean EMP sheilding typically used in military sytems?
Cost, mainly. There's not enough money in the United States to harden ALL the electrical lines, much less all the equipment to boot.
We could, but this would be extremely expensive and would take considerable time. This couldn't be done for our radio type communication service as in the way the technology works (To shield from the E+M that it works on). And on the consumer end, you would need to live in a house made of Mu metal of large thickness. It would be like trying to cover all of the oceans to keep the rain out. As far as protecting the population, old treaties didn't allow defensive weapons, but offensive ones.
Money money money. It would mean buring all the electrical lines in the US, besides additional shielding. Think of it this way. A 25 tv cost around $300.00 A 25 emp shielded tv would cost $5,000.00 Get the picture?
military equipment is hardened against EMP. and if that fails we have backups. such as field phones (thats were i cringe) as for the civilan side of things, its not really worth it. one of the First known EMPs was created using Nuclear arms which you have other problems then your electronics being blown out. and with advances in weapons technology and the ability to create EMPs with out Nukes its to exspensive to try to harden everything. also the technology required as far as i know is pretty advanced it be hard to make without a industrailized economy as for the goverment not protecting us against EMPs thats up to the private industries who are suppling the electronics your using.

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