An Australian fleet of US Black Hawk helicopters will cost $2 billion.

A decade sooner than expected, Australia has announced that it will replace its fleet of Taipan military helicopters with 40 Black Hawk helicopters from the United States, at an estimated cost of 2.8 billion Australian dollars ($1.97 billion).

Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Wednesday that Australia's fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, which have been beset for years by expensive maintenance problems, will be replaced by UH-60M Black Hawks from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp.

Marles told ABC News, "We just don't have the flight hours out of the Taipan that we would require." "We have faith that the Black Hawks will provide that. It's a platform we are accustomed to using.

Airbus, the European aircraft company that makes the Taipans, is heavily owned by the French government, and Paris had been pleading with Australia to maintain its 40-strong fleet.

The US helicopter agreement "won't interrupt," according to Marles, who claimed to have spoken with his French counterpart numerous times.

In a statement, Airbus said it “acknowledges” the decision and that Australia remained a key market for the company.

Dropping the Taipans comes after Australia decided in 2021 to switch from French-made submarines for nuclear submarines to be built by the United States and the United Kingdom, which resulted in improved relations between Paris and Canberra.

Relations between the two countries fell apart as a result of Australia's then-conservative government's shocking decision to unexpectedly cancel the 62 billion dollar ($90 billion) agreement with France for the supply of submarines.

At the height of the crisis, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was charged with lying about the deal by French President Emmanuel Macron, and Paris summoned its ambassador from Canberra.

After the submarine issue, Marles claimed he was certain that the helicopter agreement would not jeopardize his country's relations with France.

Dealing honestly with the French is crucial in this situation, he told national network ABC.

In response to China's expansion of its footprint in the Indo-Pacific area, Australia is moving to increase defense spending.

The Black Hawks, according to Australian Major General Jeremy King, would satisfy the nation's strategic requirements.

According to King, this acquisition will enable Australia to defend itself and respond to emergencies in the future safely and effectively.