Under the terms of the agreement, the two US defence giants will deliver Javelin missiles to the two Gulf countries within 18 months, under Washington’s foreign military sales programme.

The quantity of missiles to be sold is not yet known.

The Javelin is a precision-guided missile, capable of being carried and operated by a single person. Raytheon claims it is effective against all known armour and in all weather. The missile is currently in service with the US Army, and with ten other allied nations.