The Arleigh Burke-class vessels are equipped with launchtubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and gun placements for close combat.
"We've invested in PR and marketing advisers to take us through the process and obviously we've invested in the manufacturing of quite a large number of tubes ready for the launch, " he said.
This situation is compounded by the fact that the Soviets would retain the ability to launch such weapons from myriad missile launchers and torpedo tubes that would remain even if a ban were agreed upon.