Saudi Arabia is planning to purchase $186m worth of artillery systems from the US, a high-ranking source in the Saudi Government has revealed.

The Arabian website Elaf reported the source as saying that an agreement will be reached on the deal in the near future.

The deal includes the supply of 36 155mm guns and 54 105mm guns, the source added.

The Middle East kingdom entered the largest arms exports contract, worth $60bn, with the US last year..

The contract included 84 new F-15 fighter jets, 70 Apache helicopters, 72 Black Hawk helicopters, 36 Little Birds, 12 MD-530F helicopters and the upgrade of 70 F-15s, as well as a wide range of rockets, bombs and other equipment.