Rapid Fire 2010-05-17: Nuclear Modernization

* President Obama proposes a 10-year, $80 billion plan to modernize the USA’s nuclear arsenal, and comply with the recent arms reduction treaty that he signed with Russia. * US House Armed Services Committee Republicans unveil the beginnings of a party approach to defense issues and the FY 2011 budget, via their Defend American plan. * Retiring NORAD chief USAF Gen. Gene Renuart says US radar systems need to be replaced. * Aegean rivals Greece, Turkey sign a number of deals – but not on proposed defense cuts. This is not unexpected, and EU Parliamentarian Daniel Cohn-Bendit repeats his allegations that maintaining French & German arms deals was an unwritten condition of the bailout. * EADS’ profits drop 39% despite higher revenues due to deteriorating currency-hedging rates. EADS release [pdf] * Obama administration to ask Congress to provide $205 million for Israeli Iron Dome short-range missile defense system. * Strategy Analytics: US defense industry needs to develop solution for COTS obsolescence in military systems. * Finland retires its last 2 Mi-8 helicopters, as its new NH90 TTHs prepare to reach operational status in 2013-14. * Rep. McKeon [R-CA-25] unveils a new web site for the bipartisan US House UAV caucus. […]