[ColdSteel]

Well, I've never seen the AI do a planetary invasion in strategic mode but it sure works fine when I do it myself.

I created a new strategy called "Strip Planet Defenses" which does just that. I send in the first wave with that strategy and once the skys are clear I send in my troop transports to take the planet. Works great. I love taking planets, not only do you get a nice world complete with facilites and a workforce, if they breath another atmosphere you can use them as seed populations on planets with that same atmosphere. Works great. Wish the AI would use that strategy more, it would make for a much tougher struggle.