The defense chiefs of the United States, Britain and Australia have agreed to bolster deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region by collaborating on advanced technologies.

The trilateral security alliance, known as AUKUS, held a defense ministers' meeting in the US state of California on Friday. The partnership was established to counter China's increasing maritime activities in the region.

A joint statement released afterward says the three nations reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating their collaboration in the advanced technology sector to enhance their deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.

The statement says the AUKUS partners will "deploy common advanced artificial intelligence algorithms on multiple systems, including P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft, to process data from each nation's sonobuoys," which detect underwater sounds from submarines.

It says, "These joint advances will allow for timely high-volume data analysis."

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a joint news conference that the three nations move every day closer to their shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The US government notified Congress of its approval for the sale of submarine-related equipment worth 2 billion dollars in connection with Australia's plan to introduce US nuclear-powered submarines.