How good are the fighters in DW2?

[Shogouki]

I remember the fighters being quite potent in DW:U and I usually kept my Spaceports and Defense Bases with lots of hangers, but the fighters in DW2 seem to get hit pretty easily. How are fighters at the various tech levels? Can they be a primary means of defense and offense or only something to supplement other weapon systems?

[SirHoraceHarkness]

So far they seem pretty powerful early game but late game when top tech armor is the norm they quickly lose effectiveness. However they melt shields at all tech levels so there is that.

[Es78]

It really depends and what weapon tech your using adn what level the enemy is on.
In my last play through i had a minin station with just 1 medum fighterbay (end game) it managed to kill of 4 Gravilex´s and not lossing a fighter.
They were equied with Firestorm Topedos
Stellar armor (secret tech) and Meridian Shields
With this setup i also managed to kill of 4 Hiveships 1 at a time in the same system, due to there slow jump time, with 4 carriers (the first varriant) only equiped with medium fighter bays

If your going fighters i strongly recomend going with torpedos and or blasters. Missiles is a bad pick they use to much energy and low damage.

So yes fighters can be really good.

[zgrssd]

For the late game:
If you get Ion PD, you also get Fighter Ion Weapons. While they can only affect Shields and Weapons with Ion Damage, they also skip armor with the normal one.

And generally if armor is the issue, use more Armor Skipping weapons.