The Akira Class is also equipped with a metaphasic shield, which allows the ships to remain in a sun's corona for periods of up to 28 hours. The metaphasic shield allows the Akira to study a sun's corona very thoroughly.

Metaphasic shielding is a technology invented by Dr. Reyga, a Ferengi scientist, in 2369. It is capable of withstanding the pressure and energy of a star's corona, much like multiphasic shielding. The technology was installed on the Shuttlecraft Justman, but Reyga was murdered by Takaran scientist Jo'Bril shortly before the shields were proven. Subsequently, Dr. Beverly Crusher successfully demonstrated the shield's effectiveness by piloting the Justman into the corona of the star Veytan.

Commander Geordi La Forge developed the technology further for use on the USS Enterprise-D in 2370. These modifications allowed the Enterprise-D to lure a Rogue Borg ship into a star's corona and destroy it with a solar flare.