Hyper-Deuterion Engine

A hyper-deuterion nuclear reactor is a revolutionary mobile suit reactor used within the Cosmic Era timeline.

Technical Information
This new reactor is a hybrid system created by ZAFT (and also used by Terminal) which combines a nuclear reactor with deuterion conversion technology. These two technologies complement each other and thus, in theory, provide an endless supply of power. The process works as follows: the deuterion converter functions like a battery, storing excess power coming from the nuclear engine as deuterion pairs, which are then funneled back into the reactor to continue the nuclear reaction. Thanks to this, hyper-deuterion nuclear reactors are far more efficient than conventional nuclear fission reactors.

Despite using the same reactor, the "G.U.N.D.A.M" acronym for ZAFT's mobile suits is Gunnery United Nuclear-Deuterion Advanced Maneuver, while the acronym for Terminal’s mobile suits is Generation Unsubdued Nuclear Drive Assault Module. It has been suggested that the reason for this difference between the Destiny/Legend and Strike Freedom/Infinite Justice OS is because the former draw their power from the deuterion battery, while the latter draw it directly from the reactor, leaving the deuterion battery as a backup power supply, to be used in case the Neutron Jammer Canceller needs to be deactivated. However, this matter still awaits official confirmation.

History
This new type of reactor was created by ZAFT after the first Bloody Valentine War and tested on the prototype ZGMF-X3000Q Providence ZAKU. Afterwards, the reactor was installed on ZAFT's newest Gundam-type mobile suits, the ZGMF-X42S Destiny and ZGMF-X666S Legend. Terminal, after somehow acquiring this technology, equipped it on the ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice and ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom. Lastly, the unique ZGMF-X12D Astray Out Frame D was also equipped with a hyper-deuterion nuclear reactor as part of a series of upgrades by Lowe Guele.