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ustralia and Indonesia are set to broaden cooperation in a number of defense-related areas after ministers from both countries signed an agreement on security and defense on Wednesday.

Visiting Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith and Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro signed the document at the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Hall in the ministry’s compound on Wednesday to conclude two days of meetings between the two.

Smith was accompanied by Australian Defense Materiel Minister Jason Clare who also covers the home affairs and justice portfolios.

The document covers broad aspects of cooperation, aiming to strengthen and develop cooperation in the fields of defense policy, inter-agency relations, counterterrorism, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military logistics, medical services support, peacekeeping and intelligence.

The agreement also provides the basis for cooperation in defense industry development, defense materiel, science and technology, education and training in defense or military sectors, defense governance and management and other fields in the common interest of both countries.

Purnomo said cooperation between both countries had actually been going for quite some time at the military-to-military level.

He was referring to the recent exercise “Pitch Black 2012” in which the Indonesian Air Force sent four Russian-made Sukhoi Su-27/30 Flanker jet fighters Down Under.

This was the first time Indonesia took part in Pitch Black and also the Flankers’ first visit to Australia.

“Our pilots shared their experiences and knowledge with Australian pilots during the exercise,” Purnomo said.

Australian fielded the F-18 A/B Hornet and F-18 E/F Super Hornet heavy jet fighters. Other jet fighters included Singapore’s F-15SG and F-16 C/D light jet fighter, Thailand’s F-16 A/B and the United States’ F-18 C/D Hornet. New Zealand took part in the exercise without any jet fighters, having decommissioned them in 2001.

Earlier in the day, Smith, Clare and Purnomo discussed defense industry cooperation.

Indonesian Research and Technology Minister Gusti M Hatta attended the meeting as well as Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, director general of defense potential Pos Hutabarat and officials from the Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP).

Sjafrie told reporters after the meeting that each country was looking for what it could offer its counterpart. “We are offering middle-technology weapons such as assault rifles and armored personnel carriers,” he said.

He added Australia had established the Australian Military Sales Office (AMSO) similar to the United States’ FMS [Foreign Military Sales], signaling a shift in its stance by actively looking for customers.

Smith announced the creation of AMSO on July 2, which will facilitate disposal activities and export-related transactions, including government-to-government sales, for Australian produced military equipment and services.

The Indonesian Navy has a fleet of Australian-made GAF N22 Nomad and N24 Searchmaster twin turboprop light aircraft used for patrol and surveillance missions.

The Navy is hoping to modernize its patrol and surveillance fleet with the order of five CN-235 Maritime Patrol aircraft from state-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia.