>Nobody's bothered to try to figure out how to create a
small-scale EMP without a nuclear blast
Additionally the US DoD has an EMP weapon that comes in guided missile form via Raytheon/Boeing Phantom Works' CHAMP (publicly tested in 2012, confirmed in operation thereafter [1][2]) for taking out buildings, power grids, and such. It can be discharged 100 times per sortie.
[1] https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/wireless/KM10848...