Financial Times said that Swedish defence company Saab appears to have a better chance of winning backing from Swiss voters for one of its most important fighter jet export contracts after the Swedish company agreed to hand SFr405m ($461m) worth of business to Swiss companies.

The latest poll – taken after the deals were signed – suggests that the opposition to Switzerland buying 22 Saab Gripen fighter jets for $3.4bn has fallen to a slim majority of 52 per cent. That leaves 42 per cent in favour and 6 per cent undecided.