@mattly I have read all but the latest Honorverse books by Dave Weber, yes.
that is the method of choice for planetary attack, the kinetic energy is incredible. I was just discussing it with my partner yesterday.
--- separately but illustrative ---
imagine, if this 2500 kg satellite was shaped to preserve its ballistic orbit and smash into the ground with most of its mass concentrated, instead of burning up on re-entry
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/02/ERS-2_reentry_how_and_why_is_it_happening