[Paul1980au]

Lets look at specific improvements to tech types.

To start with missile weapons - standard missiles - sheild beating missiles (bypasses shields) - the facility missiles (space port, space yard, research lab and so forth) - guided missiles and random movement missiles - concussion missiles (greater chance of hitting fighters or unshielded ships)
Fast moving small missiles (less damage higher movement harder to hit) and slow moving big missiles (more damage but easier to hit) long range and short range missiles - missiles that target specific weapons and components.

Higher tech levels could make missiles faster and harder to hit instead of a base speed factor of 6 in SE4.

Production facilities for missiles (armanents angle) you would need to produce certain missiles load them onto ships but they would need resupplying otherwise the ship might have to rely on beam weapons etc. Just another angle - armaments resupply and inventory levels

Then storage components (missile storage) or special launchers to enable their use - seperate cargo types for units and ship araments.