Saudi Arabia has bought 44 Leopard tanks from Germany in the first phase of a multi-billion euro deal to acquire a total of 200 tanks in coming months, Saudi security sources told Reuters.

"So far, Saudi has bought 44 tanks from Germany and ... in  total want to buy 200 tanks from Germany," said one security source, speaking on condition of anonymity.   

He declined to give a value for the purchase, saying it was a multi-billion euro deal. The 2A7+ tanks are made by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall.

Der Spiegel magazine reported on Sunday that the German government's security council gave the deal its stamp of approval last week. Officials at the Saudi defence ministry were not immediately available for comment.

"There is a general plan to increase all counts of defence equipment and number of people working in that sector," said a second security source.   

Last year, US officials said that Saudi planned to buy $60 billion worth of military aircraft, including upgrades to existing aircraft. - Reuters