Sub-orbital aircraft carriers

Figures source: Sub-orbital aircraft carrier.

The idea of a flying "aircraft carrier" is not new, even Lockheed had a plan for a giant nuclear-powered bomber that would carry its protector airplanes. Previously we had balloon airships that carried airplanes. The problem of all these carriers was that they were slow and vulnerable and could be easily shot down.

Things change when this carrier is orbital and out of the reach of most common weapons. Up to four Scramjet spaceplanes per mothership are enough. Many small motherships are better than a few big ones because the enemy doesn't know where to shoot his expensive anti-satellite missiles.

The carrier can have its own defenses: LASERs, Plasma railguns and anti-missiles and even nukes. So it's not so vulnerable in the orbit. It can move FAST (Mach 24 - Mach 32) and strike everywhere.