LONDON, April 5. /TASS/. The AUKUS members the US, UK and Australia will cooperate in the development of hypersonics, counter-hypersonics and electronic warfare capabilities, according to a statement released by the UK government on Tuesday.

"We also committed today to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen co-operation on defense innovation," the statement said. "These initiatives will add to our existing efforts to deepen co-operation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities."

"As our work progresses on these, and other critical defense and security capabilities, we will seek opportunities to engage allies and close partners," the statement continued.

The AUKUS leaders "reiterated our unwavering commitment to an international system that respects human rights, the rule of law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes free from coercion" in light of Russia’s "unlawful invasion of Ukraine," according to the statement.

The Financial Times earlier reported the new AUKUS program could be aimed against China that, according to estimates by the Pentagon, has substantially outpaced the West in the development of hypersonic weapons. Tony Radakin, chief of the UK Defense Staff, earlier said the UK will start developing hypersonic weapons, attributing the move to the growing Russian potential in the area.

The trilateral partnership was announced in September last year. As part of an agreement that was concluded at the time, Australia plans to employ US and UK technology to build at least eight nuclear submarines, the first of which will enter service in 2036, and to equip its armed forces with US guided missiles. China said then that the creation of AUKUS would exacerbate the arms race and called on the alliance to give up the "Cold War mentality."

On February 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. He said Moscow doesn’t plan to occupy Ukrainian territories. Afterward, the US, EU, UK and some other countries imposed sanctions on Russian individuals and legal entities.