The new energy absorbent layer EA-X is still on track to begin full production in Q1 2110 but will be fitted to 2 Panther destroyers over the next couple of months as they receive their Panther Enhanced Capability Update 2109 (PECU09). The 2 Panthers have not yet been revealed but are likely to be whatever ships are undergoing their update when the material becomes available. Fitting a EA-X layer will add 3 days to the update, EA-X is applied as a paste which is then subjected to high intensity rays. The Panthers will not look any different though officially will be around 4-5mm bigger!
EA-X is intended as a last line of defence to allow a ship to absorb the energy from a weapon strike in the advent of shields failing. EA-X 1.0 can take a full shot from a medium level energy weapon such as the secondary armament on a Pulsar or a Molentic Tuul's main weapons. Energy then needs to be bled off (which takes a few seconds) before the next strike can be absorbed. Future versions of EA-X should be able to absorb more energy, the DDS are also working on using the absorbed energy in a ship's own weapons.
