BRAZIL- Sweden Company Saab, has won a $4.5bn deal to supply 36 fighter jets to Brazil.

The deal is one of the most valuable ones in emerging markets and Saab had faced competition from rivals Boeing and Dassault Aviation.

Contrary to people’s expectation that the deal will be won by Boeing or Dassault, Saab claimed the contract.

According to source, Boeing's cause was not helped by a recent row between the US and Brazil over spying allegations.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) has been accused of intercepting emails and messages from President Dilma Rousseff, her aides and state oil company, Petrobras.

The spying allegations were made by Rio-based journalist Glenn Greenwald, who obtained secret files from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

The claims led to Ms Rousseff cancelling her state visit to Washington, initially planned for October this year.

The Defence Minister, Celso Amorim, said account of performance, the effective transfer of technology and costs of acquisition and maintenance were considered before the contract was finally awarded to Saab.