I've heard a lot of conflicting information on what affects carrier pets themselves. Most agree that power levels don't affect carrier pets, i.e. your weapon power setting has no impact on the damage your fighter drones do. However, I've heard conflicting answers on whether or not training in disruptors and cannons improves the damage of carrier pets, not to mention other skills like combat maneuvers improving the alpha strike of bird of prey drones. Has anyone done any conclusive testing on this, or have any devs given definitive responses about this?

I'm a Carrier (Voquv) user on 2 of my 3 toons in the KDF. I prefer Birds of Prey, and when respecing at the skill trainer, I highlight the hangers from the drop down box. It lists mainly engineering skills, I have never seen any difference in their effectiveness wheather I'm specced for disruptors/photons or not.

You can right click the Fighter or BOP or other deployable and see what Captains skills are said to improve their performance.

There's currently know way to tell if specing into the skills listed on the Deployables themselves really adds any benefit to them