Indonesian and Spanish defense ministers signed here on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) to expand military cooperation between the two countries that has been discussed since 2007.

The military cooperation will involve mitigation of the impact of natural disasters, according to the MoU.

"They demonstrated their sincere readiness in 2004 when they directly came here from faraway place to help us in tackling the impact of the devastating tsunami in Aceh," Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said after signing the MoU with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Morenes Eulate.

Besides disaster mitigation, the military of the two countries also expand cooperation in the aviation sector, particularly on the production of Casa planes for military purposes. PT Dirgantara Indonesia, a major aerospace company of the country, is licensed to produce propeller planes originally designed by Spanish plane maker Casa.

"This would be cooperation in the science and technology sector, highlighted on acquisition and application of military equipment system," Purnomo said, quoted by local news portal detik.com.

Through the close military cooperation, Indonesia wanted to enhance friendship and improve its defense technology.

"This is a very important cooperation. We can learn knowledge on non-combat military operation from each other," Purnomo said.