After several try-outs, my previous designs for a future aircraft carrier have evolved in this concept for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces: JS Shinano.

Japan, with a total sea area covering about 4.48 million km2, may soon find itself in need of a larger aircraft carrier than the country has today with the Izumo, which actually is a helicopter carrier modified to carry and operate around 12 to 14 F-35B's. Though they currently are Japan's largest warships and offer significant improvement of capabilities for the Japanese Navy, they will most likely come short against China’s future naval power and Japan might need a larger, dedicated aircraft carrier.

DDH-187 Shinano is a concept carrier to enter service around 2040. The design has a two-island configuration, with a STOBAR-flight deck. With a length of 308 lm, a beam of 80m and a displacement of around 80,000 tons, she will be Japan's largest warship in service since the end of World War II. She is conventionally powered using a cutting edge LNG - Marine Hydrogen fuel cell powerline and carries up to 60 aircraft, including the F-35B -which Japan already operates- and a navalised version of Japan's next generation fighter Mitsubishi F-X, as well as unmanned aircraft such as the Boeing Loyal Wingman. The EV-22 Osprey serves as an AEW & C platform.

The ship itself is made of an ultra-strong acrylic , replacing traditional steel and is coated with drag-reducing graphene. It has an aft section with an additional flight deck for drones and is armed with high-energy laser weapons for both close-in self defense against UAVs and enemy aircraft, as well as powerful long-range laser weapons to intercept hypersonic cruise missiles and nuclear armed ICBMs.

Cutting-edge technology also fills the fighting heart of the ship, which include a 3D holographic command table in the Ops Room and smaller holographic pods mounted in GoogleGlass-style walls, where information can be overlaid on 360° external views, while secure real-time communications allow the data to be transmitted to wherever it may be needed.