The US plans to sell $10.8bn of military hardware, including bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles, to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

The GCC counties have requested the supply of over 9,500 individual weapons from US manufacturers Boeing and Raytheon. Saudi Arabia is due to buy $6.8bn worth of weaponry, with the UAE requesting $4bn.

Weapons ordered include GBU-39-B bunker-buster bombs and Standoff Land Attack Extended Range (SLAM-ER) and Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) cruise missiles.

In 2011, Saudi Arabia was the US’ most important military trade partner in the Gulf, reaching $33.7bn worth of arms deals, according to a US Congressional Research Service report.