I had an idea for an A-wing that could be throwing up to 5 dice at short range, with regular guns.

Green Squadron Pilot - Test Pilot Title, Chaardan Refit, Expose, Opportunist.

So yeah, the A-wing costs 25pts, and it can have up to 4 dice for is basic attack. Obviously you need Wes to strip tokens to make sure you are effective but I think that this would be fun to fly. It might scare the crap out of someone when you roll a 5 dice attack with an A-wing.

If only you could fit Jan Ors into the list as well and roll 6 dice........

I like it and I would say that Wes isn't necessarily needed (although welcome!) if you have a few of these guys. At that point opportunist becomes a reverse sensor jammer. "Are you sure you want to spend that focus on attacking?" as 4 A-wings point their potentially 4-attack guns at the attacker.

And before the expose naysayers jump onboard. Yes it uses your action and so isn't as good, however it's a tool that you can use tactically and a threat your opponent must adjust for. I probably would switch it out for outmaneuver in cases, but I think each has its merits on a 24-25 point ship.

seems fairly pointless to be throwing unmodified 4-5 dice attacks when you could be trolling around with Jan and HLC B-wings

Not necessarily unmodified - if you can set an 'attack run' up right, you'd roll into range 3, trusting agility 3 and your shields to save you from long range shots, and target lock at long range, then dart in close and unload a 5 dice, target locked attack.

Essentially, consider it reusable proton rockets.

Personally I'd take opportunist but not expose - not so much because of the dice-versus-focus-token argument, but because agility is life for an A-wing; since you're shooting last against a lot of opponents, you're essentially a tokenless Z-95 on the defence - I'd be concerned about losing 1 or more A-wings before they get their shots off.

It should make a right royal mess of a big ship, though.