In the first ever such pact with a Gulf nation, India on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation with Oman.

This includes supply of Indian weapons.

The MoU, signed by visiting Omanese Defence Minister Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Hareb Al Busaidi, also envisages exchange of expertise in military training and information technology, utilization of military educational courses and programme and sending of observers to each others military exercises, a defence ministry spokesman said.

The MoU also provides for working out technical specifications of military equipment in a bid to facilitate direct agreement with manufacturing companies of both the countries and maintaining quality assurance of defence supplies by ministry of defence for contracts signed within its framework.

"The agreement will further enhance constructive military interaction between the two countries including the supply of Indian equipment to Oman," the spokesman said.

The MoU comes in the wake of India and Oman recently conducting joint naval exercises and frequent exchange of visits of naval chiefs.