I wonder if you could get a similar area saturation from a Caspian boating rocket launchers? Just have friendlies on the ground "paint" targets with laser weapons.

Not a thing. I just picked a system at random and clicked "plot route."

The Crab Nebula does look quite nice. I might drop by on my way back from the Formidine Rift, as I want to at least try and reach that part of the galactic rim.