Could it be that strike craft simply have no role to fill? They might have too much overlap with missiles and torpedoes. And since high Alpha damage is often preferable to lower but sustained damage, there isn't much of a niche for them. They'd need to provide some unique capability.
Exactly. Something unique that sets them apart from those redundant weapons.
That's why I suggested (in one of the countless threads with this topic) to give strike crafts a "virtual" and limited hyper jump capability. ("Virtual", because they wouldn't be directly moved around as separate units, but would passively operate from carriers. A 'target system' could be set, though.)
- IMO, strike crafts should be able to harass and weaken enemy fleets or installations with attacks over the distance of 1-3 jumps. Their range could increase with technology.
- As usual, attacked units will be able to defend with flak, PD or own fighters, decreasing the attack strength by shooting down more and more fighters and bombers.
- Shot down crafts should be rebuild slowly with an increased carrier upkeep during the time of rebuilding.
- In order to defeat them completely, fleets have to attack the carriers in the system they are stationed in. Now in "close combat" fighters can act like currently.
- With the new trade route protection mechanic, this effect is already sort of implemented: star base weapons clear out pirates several systems away. I say: go the whole way! Make guns and missiles
only effective for direct in-system combat (but more powerful than strike crafts) and use hangar bays the only option to protect trade routes (and less effective in direct combat).
- I am sure, interesting roles for fighter crafts and bombers could be found using the suggested system.
But this is (again) just a pointless suggestion and not helpful to the OP, who asked for an existing mod.
Sorry for not being helpful.
But I really believe that we need a completely new and innovative approach to this weapon system. A completely new game mechanic and not just tweaking some existing values in order to make it a valid and interesting option.
