I think I saw them doing this in one of the Dev Streams, but I can't seem to do it. Is this something that is scheduled for a later level?
I would like to design ship templates that will automatically be upgraded as new techs are researched. If I specify a base level component, such as a hyper drive engine, and complete the tech for the hyperdrive plus engine, the game will make my design available with the new engine. Then if I complete the tech for an Ion engine, the game will make my design available with Ion engines.
Perhaps this would be better if the ship design allowed us to specify a number of each component type (engines, sensors, life support modules, beam weapons, missile defense modules, etc.) then the game can do the upgrades as the techs are researched.