>>2116668
Kh-25ML, Kh-38ML, Vikhrs and Mavericks are ripple fired automatically if the plane carrying them flies specifically at low altitude and within that specific weapons range of a laser designated target until said target is destroyed or no more missiles remain. Generally that range is 2500m. Otherwise yeah, strafe and the plane locks and fires without any lasers needed.

With smart bombs you either do the usual bombing run, or click default P once for each smart bomb and then select targets for each of them, and they'll drop much more accurately while also allowing you to hit several spread out targets simultaneously. Laser designation just makes them pinpoint accurate if target is stationary or you predict where the target will be upon impact correctly. Same produce goes for cruise missiles.

Clicking on a ground unit with a plane just initiates a strafing run that kinda follows that unit, but its cancelled once that unit dies or LoS is otherwise lost so generally not recommended.