Maybe the Gov't has learnt and is buying off the shelf, proven systems.
Australia is to buy 24 Lockheed Martin Seahawk combat helicopters at a cost of more than $3 billion, the government says.
The Seahawk, known as Romeo, was chosen in preference to the European designed NH90 NFH.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the American helicopters would fill a role now performed by ageing Seahawk helicopters.
"We very strongly believe it is value for money," Mr Smith told reporters in Canberra.
"This has been through a competitive process - the competitor was Australian Aerospace with the NATO (NH90 NFH) helicopter, but we have decided to choose the 24 Romeo Seahawks."
Mr Smith said the new helicopters would do the job which would have been performed by the Seasprites, had that $1 billion project not been cancelled.
"We expect that to occur over the period 2014 to 2020," he said.
Mr Smith said the Seahawk was in use with the US Navy and a proven capability. It's also the latest version of the Navy's 16 S-70B Seahawks which have been in Australian service since the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said this was a big and important decision.
"These helicopters will replace our existing Seahawk helicopters and they will be based at HMAS Albatross at Nowra," he said.
"They will operate off the back of our Anzac frigates as well as our new air warfare destroyers and their job is to hunt and kill submarines."
Mr Clare said the new helicopters would also be used in counter-piracy and counter-terrorist operations in the Middle East.