When do missed shots and/or suppression shot destroy objects

xcom-enemy-unknownxcom-enemy-within

Mostly, indoor, a miss shot, or suppression destroy the wall behind target.
Sometime it destroy something useful(like navi computer) Sometime, the shot just go into sky.
The chance go up when weapon get better (Laser, Plasma)
Is it random, or do we have any chance do this on purpose ?
Like on ancient Xcom (i mean DOS version long ago), we can command troop to shot at wall to destroy it.

Best Answer

There are a few ways to deliberately destroy damageable terrain, but they involve grenades, rockets, properly timed destruction of Sectopods, Mechtoids, Ethereals or Cyberdisks or the MEC trooper's collateral damage special ability.

Missed shots' fire angle is randomly determined; if it hits something else the game determines then and there whether that type of weapons fire has the capability to destroy the object (or in the case of cars, set it on fire) and resolves on the spot.