I can authoritatively say, I have no clue how you could make a helicopter cost $1b. Literally, I'm not sure what you could bolt on that would add up to a billion per airframe.
Supposedly, they're cutting back significantly on the VH-71 requirements because Ashton Carter has convinced SecDef that such a helicopter
cannot be built. I'll believe it when I see it in writing, but I fully expect to see a boatload of the latest avionics, comm gear better that the Enterprise, electronic warfare suite with all the trimmings, extended-range fuel tanks, complete armor kit, and a fine Corinthian leather chair for The Man.
Integrating all that into a VH-whatever will take ages and cartloads of cash. UGH.
TC