The concept is sound and from what you are describing in your ideas it sounds a lot like games in production like Combat Simulation System, Star Conflict and MoonBreakers. You might want to check these out. And these will also be MP only style games.

This could work if you use that concept differently than what other developers are, here is some thoughts on changing it up a bit to offer something different. I play MP games on occasion and here is something that rarely happens in a combat action style game. Let's take a story arc of three missions with an estimated run time of 30-60mins. You start off with a mission brief and you are to scout out a enemy base and report findings. Your squad patrols the sector and notes turret emplacements, ammo dumps, shield generators, base, and hangers. Mission two moves forward with the attack of said assets and you accumulate points to call in carriers for reinforcements and to replenish ship assets or purchase upgrades. Once the enemy base gets to a certain damage level enemy reinforcements arrive to help protect and wipe you out.

You will have the engaging force which consists of 8-16 people and the defending force which has 6-12 people or bots, reason there is less is because of the turrets/mines defending base. Give defending players the options to either fly or man a turret. Turrets and defender ships can be upgraded and replenished as well just by landing in the hangers. And probably have the whole mission capped with a timer or its a draw.

At the end of the match you can reward points used to unlock weapons, ship systems, personal mods and ships. Then you can design other level types on the same line and of course scale the difficulty as people level and get better gear.

Just some thoughts, and if you move forward with your game if you need forum space to discuss it just ask and I will gladly give lend a hand there for you.

And welcome to SSC.

-D1-