DDS Research say they have developed a new material called EA-X that can improve the protection of spacecraft against energy weapons. EA-X is an ultra energy absorbent plastic, even a 5mm thick layer can absorb giga-joules of energy which can be expelled safely using a kind of "earthing rod". Although EA-X doesn't make a ship invulnerable in can help absorb some of the energy from a beam weapon and is intended as a last line of defence should the shields fail. A DDS Research spokeswoman said that EA-X would be able to absorb the energy from a shot from the average HCS warship for example.
The material becomes saturated very quickly so the second shot is likely to cause damage but this extra protection could be the difference between being able to escape and destruction in a combat situation. EA-X works with a thin layer (thicker layers do not increase the effectiveness by any significant amount) so will not change the appearance of ships to any noticeable degree. EA-X will now be given a full in-service trial starting with one of the Panthers being built this year (probably ship #6).
