a volley all hit likely at the same second
At the same 5-second.
I think it's long enough for electronics to consider retargetting with some simple algorithm, using sensors at very close* range.
(*) close for this tech level
But I'm inclinig to agree, that ideal retargetting is quite boring. I'd prefer to see missiles targetting as v1.13's "Fire at Will" mode do, just to make escorts more important.
All the missiles need to penetrate the final fire PD in those same 5 seconds, and need to distinguish between a burning hulk and a functional warship, both of which are surrounded by the nuclear fireballs of missiles which have already impacted, then need to find a new target and change course to hit that other target.
So personally I disagree that re-targeting should be possible based on a realism argument, at best it should be highly improbable or require specialised designs.
As a possible compromise, missiles targeted at destroyed ships could have a chance of re-targeting, but instead of hitting in the same increment they fly past and make another 'attack run' in the next increment against a random target (or weighted random target based on size).
This would make missiles face the final fire PD again, giving the targets another chance to fight back and reducing the ability of a single overwhelming strike to take out multiple targets without risking overkill.
One way of making missile sensors more important would be to make the re-targeting chance based on the size of the on-board sensor.
Something like 1% per 0.01 MSP, reduced by ECM so that a missile with a 0.25 MSP minimal sensor gets a 25% chance of re-targeting, or 15% if opposed by ECM 1.
Alternatively you could make the missile Maneuver value the % chance of re-targeting, or a combination of both factors.
This would incentivise using specialised missiles with large sensors (or high maneuver value) if you want to use missile strikes which automatically re-target.
Another factor could be the presence of the original missile fire control, if no longer in range the chance to re-target is halved.
That would incentivise keeping the missile launch platform (relatively) nearby if you want to use this tactic.
now this post looks like it belongs in the suggestions thread...