XM17 Energy Defense Apparatus

The , known more commonly as the XM17 Shield System, was a type of United Nations Space Command Naval defense mechanism; the system employs a combination of reverse-engineered Covenant energy shield technology along with human ingenuity. In field testing, the XM17 proved to be resistant to four standard magnetic accelerator cannon rounds before collapsing.

Operation
The XM17 EDA utilizes an operating system similar to that used by Covenant capital ships; specifically, an internal mechanism projects an energy field in the form of an elliptical bubble around the combat vessel. This "field" is divided into multiple square sections; a shipboard military associated intelligence is able to deactivate certain panels to allow for outgoing ordinance and parasite craft, this would prove extremely effective, although each panel required up to thirty seconds to achieve full charge.

Trivia

 * The UNSC Boatman's Tempest's installed XM17 consisted of twenty-three individual panels.
 * Despite being originally experimental, the XM17 would eventually be installed on fifteen percent of all UNSC vessels by 2607.