[DirectorTsaarx]

I've seen the AI (specifically the Xi'Chung and Ukra'Tal) do very well with minesweepers. I lost a couple of systems to each race because I couldn't replenish the minefields fast enough. Both races had dreadnought-sized (!) minesweepers that worked in pairs (I think I saw a fleet of 3 minesweepers once), and each dreadnought was capable of clearing an entire minefield by itself. Of course, they both lost a few fleets to various minefields before sweeping them, but that happens to humans sometimes too.

It is unfortunate that the minesweepers don't get placed in fleets with attack ships, but at least that way there's a chance that the attack fleet won't be destroyed by the Last few mines if the minesweepers aren't sufficient.