You are right, aircraft are vulnerable so when intercontinental ballistic missiles became available, the role of sac diminished in favor of the new technology. When battleships proved to be vulnerable to aircraft, battleships had to give way to aircraft carriers.
As satellites lasers drones etc. become instruments of war, aircraft carrier will eventually have to give way. I have twice now stated that these are considerations for the future. I do so now for the third time and pray beseeching all the gods in cyberspace that I will not be compelled to do so for a fourth time.
A battleship's fire power can be replace by smaller ships. It takes a large platform to launch and recover aircraft. It is just the way it is.
What you are saying is we need a brand new way of maintaining air superiority at sea with out using air craft carriers. OK, what is it?