I’m sorry, the calling of ships instead of ship classes is not implemented. The changes are more subtle but will nevertheless have great impact on the AI. I have extensively tested this.
Here are some of these changes:
1.) There was a problem with the counting of spaceborn units that did sent the AI in a production loop (if it was producing satellites, that is).
2.) “Do not move through minefield”-line. This line will prevent the AI from sending ship after ship into a known minefield. It was there for a long time but could not be used as the AI would not send minesweepers into the minefield either.
3.) Further minesweepers were not willing to enter a minefield if another unit was present in this sector (combo mine/satellite field). The minesweeper waited for a warship to clear the satellite and the warship waited for the minesweeper to clear the mines. As the field was never cleared, the AI stacked large amounts of ships in front of such a field. The problem has been solved, the minesweeper will now go in and clear the mines. If it is destroyed by the units (only fighter can do this), so be it, minesweeping is already a suicide mission.
4.) The population transport minister would never move population to a planet with 0 population but >0 facilities. As the Ai will not give up planets these 0 population planets were effectively lost for the AI. The AI will now send in population transports. Make sure to have medical bay on board!
5.) The AI tried to produce units (like troops) even if the Space Yard Ship was in deep space. The AI would try to produce them every turn so the ship could never move from its position but neither could produce the units. This has been solved, space yard ships (and I think bases, too) won’t produce units any more. This frees them for ship production and repair mission (yes, SYS will go after your damaged units and repair them!).