The navy has accepted the first two of its new Seahawk "Romeo" helicopters, restoring a capability for anti-submarine operations which lapsed almost two decades ago.
The navy will also gain the ability to fire missiles at enemy warships.
In a ceremony in the United States, defence company Lockheed Martin handed over the two advanced helicopters to Australian officials.
Rear Admiral Tony Dalton, head of the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation helicopter systems division, said the MH-60R "Romeo" was an evolutionary step forward.
"The Romeo builds on the known and trusted Seahawk air vehicle, incorporating state-of-the-art sensors in an open architecture, integrated mission system. The Romeo is a potent maritime combat helicopter," he said in a statement.
Under a $3 billion deal, the navy will acquire 24 of the MH-60R (Romeo) versions of the Seahawk helicopter to replace older Seahawk helicopters and the cancelled Seasprites.
The 24 aircraft will allow the navy to operate eight from the Anzac frigates and new Hobart-class air warfare destroyers with the rest based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra.
Romeos come equipped with a dunking sonar - a sonar lowered from a hovering helicopter into the ocean - allowing submarine hunting missions at considerable distance from warships. The navy hasn't had this capability since the mid-1990s.
Romeos can also attack enemy ships with Hellfire missiles. The navy has never had such a capability.
These aircraft are manufactured by helicopter company Sikorsky with radar, sonar and other missions systems installed by Lockheed Martin at its facility at Owego, New York state.
The US navy operates more than 160 Romeos.
