New wars will be fought with drones, satellites, lasers, computers, submarines and God knows what else. The carrier will remain useful not against major powers but against third world countries much as British gunboats were effective in suppressing the slave trade, piracy or fighting colonial wars. In that role is probable that Nimitz class carriers are too expensive for the job that could be accomplished by smaller cheaper vessels and such a misallocation of funds tends to weaken national security rather than strengthen it. If the new age, and especially in the transition period into the new age it will undoubtedly be necessary to retain some Nimitz class carriers.
There is a misconception that an aircraft carriers is frail fragile thing. Let me tell you they are not and can take a tremendous beating and stay afloat. It takes a lot, short of a nuclear blast, to actually get one to sink if the water tight doors have been set. They are a honey comb of compartments and passageways....