Over the past decade, Finland has developed closer ties to the EU, NATO and the US in things military. It has always been close to the US in other ways - e.g., the largest population group of Finnish ancestry outside of Finland are US nationals (including JMM from his mother's side).

This is a longer backgrounder, followed by a short question.

The largest single military purchase in Finland's history was that of 64 F-18s, which are about to be updated (the second largest Finnish defense expenduture). While there are disputes about the exact cost of the update, no question that it will be done.

HELSINGIN SANOMAT
INTERNATIONAL EDITION - HOME
3.10.2008
....
Ministry denies Air Force’s price estimate for upgrading its Hornet fighter jets.
Price of conversion of interceptors into assault fighters clarified to MPs.

The Ministry of Defence has declared incorrect the information, carried by Helsingin Sanomat and others on Thursday, according to which the modernisation programme of the Air Force F/A-18 Hornets and turning them into assault fighters would come with a price tag of EUR 1.6 billion. ...
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Min.../1135239940183

and, the article prior

HELSINGIN SANOMAT
INTERNATIONAL EDITION - HOME
2.10.2008
.....
Mid-Life update of Hornets is second-largest weapons deal in Finnish military history.
Planes that cost EUR 3 billion to buy will be upgraded for EUR 1.6 billion.

The Finnish Air Force is starting the second phase of the renewal programme of its F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets. The aim is to secure the usability of the aircraft introduced in Finland in 1995 past the year 2020 and to equip the planes for their original purpose.

“The Hornet was designed to be a strike fighter jet that would fight its way to the target, deliver the payload, and fight its way back”, explains Air Force commander Major-General Jarmo Lindberg.

So far the aircraft have only been used as interceptors against aerial targets, which is the sole role the Finnish Air Force planes have been deployed in since the Second World War. Now the Hornets are to be converted into assault fighters as well, by equipping them with bombs, glide bombs, and air-to-ground missiles. ...
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Mid.../1135239907228

Both articles provide more information about the Finnish Hornet program.

Presently, an issue exists as to sourcing of the air-to-ground missiles.

HELSINGIN SANOMAT
INTERNATIONAL EDITION - FOREIGN
5.2.2007
....
US refuses to sell air-to-ground missiles for Finland’s Hornet jets

Officials in the Untied States have rejected a preliminary request by Finland to buy JASSM air-to-ground missiles for the US-made Hornet F-18 jet fighters used by the Finnish Air Force. Finland inquired about the purchase last autumn as part of an extensive package aimed at implementing MLU2 - the second phase of the modernisation of the Air Force’s fleet of 62 jets. The Americans had no objections to Finnish requests in other respects. Finland will thus be allowed to buy missiles to attack radar stations, as well as NATO-standard Link 16 data exchange devices.
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1135224850681

General background on the Finnish Hornet program over the last decade is here (all English).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish...ce#F-18_Hornet

http://www.ilmavoimat.fi/index_en.php?id=651

http://www.ilmavoimat.fi/index_en.php?id=742

There are also various MoD and Defense Forces papers which deal with the program, but which are not material to my question.

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Finland's Main Adversary is Russia, Russia, Russia. There is no other.

The Finnish assumption (worse case scenario) is that a Russian attack will have to be defensed by Finland alone. The defense strategy seems to have two components (not clearly stated as such in formal documents).

A conventional first stage would require Russia to deploy large conventional forces and sustain heavy casualties in order to win the first stage.

The second stage would be a total nation war which probably would result in the destruction of the Finnish people in Finland (the "Paasikivi doctrine"). About 70-80% of Finns agree with that strategy even though Finnish military success would be doubtful.

My question is simply how long could the 62 Finnish Hornets stand up to Russian air power ? In short, is the expendure worth it, or could the Euros be better spent on other anti-Russian weapons ?
If there are any Hornet types (or anyone else knowledgeable) out there who would tackle this, your help would be appreciated.