The United States, Britain and Australia say they will jointly develop hypersonic weapons via the trilateral security alliance known as AUKUS.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that their countries will "commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities."

Hypersonic weapons are capable of traveling at more than five times the speed of sound. That makes it difficult for them to be intercepted by current missile defense systems.

Russia said in March that it had used an air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missile to destroy a Ukrainian ammunition depot. China reportedly tested a hypersonic weapon system in August of last year. North Korea said it test-fired a hypersonic missile in January.

Experts say Western countries may be trailing China and Russia in the development of hypersonic weaponry.

The three Anglo-Saxon nations are apparently trying to catch up by working together within the AUKUS framework. The AUKUS alliance was formed last September.

With China's accelerating maritime activities in mind, the US-led AUKUS alliance is providing Australia with technical assistance to help it build nuclear-powered submarines. The AUKUS countries are also committed to cooperating more closely on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence and other military matters.