I prefer the original swarm launchers. Don't like using them anymore. Makes you to vulnerable to infantry unless you specialise in sidearms too. At least forge guns can be duel purpose with practice.

We already have damage increase on the prof skill so that is already out the question.

I would be more than happy with the a velocity increase as this will increase the range anyway (D=S*T) so in a way its the same suggestion. However, I would prefer a distance buff for the sake of balance as I can understand where the HAV drivers are coming from as pointed out by Ulysses Knapse in this post. An increase in velocity would buff the swarm launcher in 2 ways (against D=S*T) so unless this was done in conjunction with a range nerf it would be unbalanced.

As for the reduction in lock on time, I really don't think there would be a point to this. The lock on time is currently only about 3 seconds so a 5% reduction per skill level would go somewhat unoticed.

D = S*T, but Speed and Time are also a function of energy available for thrust.

Keeping the propellant load the same, an increase in speed would yeild a shorter flight time and actually reduce range as faster flight is less efficient. Air resistance causes quite a loss. Faster speeds also increases turn radius by the square of the speed, so a missile traveling at twice the speed will require four times the turn radius which could result in a miss.

Longer range would require slower travel unless additional propellant was added, and then you have to add even more to carry the additional weight. The trade offs are what determine effective ranges for rockets and missiles.

So faster travel doesn't necessarily mean increased range, and vice versa.

Increases the speed would make dropships much more vulnerable, it would not take much extra speed for the dropships to not be able to outrun anymore and die to standard swarms wielded by people with lv5 operation.