Saudi Arabia is nearing an end in its talks with the United States to buy two warships made by Lockheed Martin Corp.

The $1-billion-plus deal could be reached by the end of the year, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters this week.

The deal appears to be part of the Saudi Naval Expansion Program II, under discussion for years with the aim of modernizing the Royal Saudi Navy�s aging US warships.

According to US sources, the program has been accelerated after the conclusion of�nuclear talks between Iran and the global powers in mid-July.

"We�re not seeing that any strains in the US�Saudi government to government relationship are inhibiting the business relationships," said one source. "The Saudis remain very interested in buying US�technology."

The report comes at a time that Riyadh is incessantly bombing its impoverished neighbor, Yemen, since its pro-Saudi president fled the country.

Saudis are also buying 10 MH-60R helicopters and are close to finalizing the deal worth $1.9 billion.

Built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp and Lockheed, the copters have various applications, including anti-submarine warfare missions.

�Saudi officials are now looking at significant orders of Lockheed's Paveway II Plus guided bomb systems to upgrade their existing inventory of bombs by adding laser-guidance systems,� Reuters said in its Wednesday report.

In July, the US State Department approved $500 million worth of munitions for the monarchy�s land troops.

The kingdom also has a $33.4-billion deal with Boeing Co to buy 84 F-15 fighter jets.

By Press TV