Long Range Scanners

[Alneyan]

Kamog said:
If they have scattering armor you can send in a cheap sacrificial ship out to attack them to look at their design. Or maybe a cheap drone or something. (I don't use drones much.)

Yup, any battle is enough to look at those designs, and it will be much cheaper and faster... but less subtle. The only uses I can see for Long Range Scanners are those situations where you must check on the supply level of an enemy fleet that has already been damaged; Long Range Scanners are also good if you are trading ships and have an exhibit somewhere in your Empire.