The fleet AI certainly seems to suggests that it could be done. Prior to that, and as you see weapon turrets functioning now, the turret would aim for the center point of an enemy ship for the most part. I've made salvage turrets before, and the problem was that they do the same thing - simply targeting the center point of the asteroid and ignoring the rest.
When it comes to the fleet AI, I notice that the drones have a tendency to change position every so often, and I wonder if that is a necessary part of their programming. If so, it might explain why the turret hasn't come out yet.