* staggers in wearing ye royal jammies and bunny slippers

Yawn...let me answer in reverse order my boy.

*Rubs eyes

2. If you have their ship designs they should be listed under "enemy ship designs" as the good fellow says

1. You are right - there should be some way to recieve friendly ship designs...in a sensible world. But, I don't think there is. As far as I can tell, ship designs are revealed on combat...if you battle with a hostile empire, for example. I don't believe that you recieve ship designs from your allies unless those ship designs have seen combat. I could be wrong...my theories could be based entirely on happenstance...but that is what i have observed. I certainly understand the dilemna...it seems very unnatural to be closely allied with a race and yet know very little about it's ship designs.