Install and use AICarriers 2 in FSX or Prepar3D, configure exe.xml, spawn carrier groups, and fix Java, menu and SimConnect errors.
AICarriers 2 is an external Java and SimConnect utility that spawns moving AI ship formations in FSX and compatible Prepar3D installations. Install the utility, make its launcher start through the simulator’s exe.xml, add the required carrier models, then use the in-sim AI Ships menu, normally opened with Shift+J, to place a formation.
What does AICarriers 2 actually install?
AICarriers 2 is a placement utility, not a complete carrier or naval-traffic package. It tells FSX or Prepar3D to create formations made from boat models already registered with the simulator.
That distinction explains a common failure: the AI Ships menu works and lists a formation, but no carrier appears because its model is missing. AICarriers also does not add TACAN, catapult controls or arresting-wire capability by itself.
How do I install AICarriers 2?
- Download and extract the package. Start with our AICarriers 2 archive and installation notes. Extract it fully rather than running setup from inside the compressed archive.
- Choose automatic or manual installation. The installer is convenient when it recognises a boxed FSX installation. For Prepar3D, unusual FSX paths or an existing customised
exe.xml, use the manual-install AICARR2 files and configuration instructions. Keep the utility in a permanent folder, not Downloads or a temporary extraction directory. - Check Java. AICarriers 2 is Java-based. If its launcher reports that Java is unavailable despite a 64-bit runtime being installed, the older launcher may also require a compatible 32-bit Java runtime.
- Check SimConnect. Boxed FSX with its service packs or Acceleration normally has the required client. Prepar3D may need the legacy FSX SP2/XPACK SimConnect client supplied among its redistributables because the original utility was built for FSX-era SimConnect. Our SimConnect installation and repair guide covers the supported locations and common side-by-side issues.
- Configure automatic startup. The installer should add AICarriers to the simulator’s
exe.xml. If it does not, merge the supplied<Launch.Addon>entry into the existing document and change its path to the actual AICarriers executable. Do not replace an existing file containing other add-ons. - Install the ships. Put FSX-compatible boat models in
SimObjects\Boats, or register them through a Prepar3D add-on package. Copy any accompanying effects only as directed by the carrier’s documentation. Our explanation of installing carrier models and effects in FSX covers this separate part of the setup.
The usual startup-file locations are %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX\exe.xml for boxed FSX and %APPDATA%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D vX\exe.xml for Prepar3D, where vX is the installed major version. FSX: Steam Edition may use either an FSX-SE profile or the older FSX profile, depending on whether boxed FSX has existed on that Windows account.
An existing exe.xml must retain one XML declaration and one root document element. Adding a second complete XML document is a mistake we see constantly; the simulator then ignores AICarriers and may stop loading every other entry below the error.
How do I spawn a carrier in FSX or Prepar3D?
- Load a flight over open water. Keep enough distance from the coast because the selected formation is placed relative to the aircraft.
- Open the AI Ships menu. Press
Shift+J, or open the simulator’s Add-ons menu and select AI Ships. Allow the flight to finish loading before trying the shortcut. - Select a formation. Choose the carrier group, followed by the offered distance or bearing. The available entries come from the AICarriers configuration files.
- Wait for the models to load. Complex carriers and escorts can take several seconds to appear. Repeatedly selecting the formation creates duplicate fleets and wastes simulator performance.
- Remove unwanted groups. Use the AI Ships menu’s delete command rather than leaving duplicate formations running for the rest of the session.
The carrier’s movement, deck equipment and effects depend on the installed model and its configuration. AICarriers handles placement; it cannot turn a static scenery object into a fully functional moving carrier.
How do I add custom carrier formations?
Custom formations work only when every unit name in the AICarriers configuration matches a registered boat’s simulator title. The folder name and model filename are not substitutes for the title defined in the boat’s configuration.
- Install each boat model where FSX or Prepar3D can discover it.
- Copy the supplied formation configuration into the AICarriers configuration location specified by that package. Some releases use the main configuration file; others supply separate configuration files.
- Check the unit names if only part of the formation appears. A visible carrier with missing escorts nearly always means those escort titles are absent or do not match.
- Restart AICarriers after editing formation files so it reloads the list.
FSX boat models are not guaranteed to render correctly in every Prepar3D generation. If the menu and formation list work but the vessel is invisible, use a model explicitly compatible with that Prepar3D version and confirm that its SimObjects path is registered.
Why is the AI Ships menu missing?
A missing AI Ships menu usually means AICarriers did not start, could not find Java or failed to connect through SimConnect.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No AI Ships entry or Shift+J menu | Wrong exe.xml, malformed XML or incorrect executable path | Run AICarriers manually after loading the simulator. If the menu then appears, repair the startup entry. |
| Java error before the utility opens | No compatible runtime, or an older 32-bit launcher cannot see a 64-bit-only installation | Install the required runtime architecture and start the launcher again. |
| Utility runs but cannot connect | Missing or mismatched SimConnect client | Install the appropriate legacy SimConnect redistributable; do not copy an unidentified DLL into the simulator folder. |
| Formation is listed but nothing appears | Missing boat model, wrong simulator title or placement over land | Verify the model registration and configuration name, then test offshore. |
| Carrier appears without escorts or effects | Individual models or effect files are missing | Check every formation unit and reinstall the package’s effects as instructed. |
FSUIPC is not required for AICarriers 2. Installing it will not repair a Java, exe.xml, SimConnect or missing-model problem.
Do AICarriers formations remain after closing the simulator?
AICarriers formations are normally temporary and last only for the active simulator session. For ships that follow scheduled routes whenever the scenery area loads, use an AI boat-traffic package rather than a session-based placement utility.