I've noticed that statistically fighters and bombers are worse than other weapons, even the ones unlocked from the Mavros quest. Do the statistics accurately display their usefulness, or are they wrong?

It depends on the ratio of fighters to bombers you're using and if you're fighting opponents who make use of a heavy amount of flak modules. 

Bombers are currently pretty good against energy based or missile based ships, and fighters have been nerfed a bit, but are still good at intercepting enemy bombers. 

Their stats are displaying their usefulness correctly but it doesn't mean they'll be good against everything. 

+ the AI tends to use projectile modules over energy ones, so they'll have flak to counter fighters/bombers 

Ah. Alright. Thanks! How much of a difference would even 1 flak weapon make against a wave of bombers?

Kehsct wrote:

Ah. Alright. Thanks! How much of a difference would even 1 flak weapon make against a wave of bombers?

Lol of course; I can't give you a definitive answer, but if the flak weaponry is adamantium or higher, and the enemy ship has defense modules that counter your let us say energy bombers, then it could probably kill them eventually (how many bombers are in your attack wave ?)

Check the projectiles weapon damage output against fighters/bombers/missiles; I think it's labeled as flak damage, and then divide your bombers health by it. That should tell you how quickly it'll destroy them. 

You may want to also switch between energy and projectile based bombers if you see the AI or other players building more hull plating/energy shields. 

Alright. I might fool around with bombers and see whether or not they yield better results for me. Do fighters only really do anything if the enemy deploys fighters?

Kehsct wrote:

Alright. I might fool around with bombers and see whether or not they yield better results for me. Do fighters only really do anything if the enemy deploys fighters?

They can attack enemy ships (though they don't deal nearly as much damage as the bombers and aren't as tanky) or defend your ships from enemy fighters/bombers 

I have tested squadrons a lot - they are just for fun. 

with the same investments I always have had better results with any other weapons

Squadrons are very slow, and beams a very fast... Actually any other weapon faster than squadrons. Thus squadrons can attack any other flotilla and make devastating damage if your Carriers are immortal/invincible and only when they eventually could get to them. Because the battle considered finished when all your carriers are dead, while all of your squadrons still flying towards nearest enemy all alive and having twise or triple firepower than your enemy. In contrary - torpedoes(missiles) will do their job even after your ship is destroyed, and any missle speed is faster than squadron-units, also missiles will "reborn" again and again when some of them were drawn by enemy flak cannons.

So then - you want some real-working long-range projectile damage - choose missiles.
And If you want some spectacular space battles alike "Star Wars" movie - choose squadrons (but first ask your rival to do the same...)

And if you need some close range projectiles damage - flak cannons is the best choiсe for the most situations.
But sometimes - it is the squadrons, who rules the battlefield. For example - your opponent does not have much FLAKs on their ships while using close range battle plan and your carriers well defendend against their kind of weapons. Then squadrons may have enough time to reach enemy ships and will able to do a lot of damage. Very occasional and rare situation though.