Point Defense Fighters: how do they work?

[Seumas]

I've set of a squad of point defense fighters. I assumed that they would stay near my ship and defend against other fighters and torpedoes but when I send my other attack fighters out they go out to battle towards enemy ships.

I've targeted my own ship and put them on defense but not sure that it is working.

Suggestions or am I missing something that I need to do or are they doing what was intended?

Thanks!

[Mattoropael]

They don't have any special function AFAIK, they're just normal fighters with point defense cannons.

The only useful variant is probably the anti-fighter cannon since the flak burst does help them score hits on other fighters.

[Seumas]

Well that's a little disappointing.