Gripen E is currently committed to the Selex/Saab Raven, with its swivelling antenna. That could get a GaN array some time in the future. The new SAAB radar is based on the PS-05/A with a fixed AESA antenna. It’s something that SAAB has done a fair bit of work on over the years, but which was rejected in favour of the wider field of view of the Selex offer. The fixed array is simpler, & should be cheaper & lighter & easier to fit to various aircraft.

Selex has done pretty well in the fighter radar retrofit market with the Grifo, but the AESA Vixen has so far not taken off.

Isn’t AESA Vixen pretty much same as Raven ES-05?
If one wants to take full advantage of GaN power, cooling of the array may be too challenging for mechanically steerable array.

My gut feeling is the Finnish defence forces will want the F-35 after any competitive trial, the only thing I am pondering is there not an argument for the F-35B rather than the A model.

B is sometimes thrown around in coffee table discussions, but I have never seen it mentioned in any official setting. And why would it? Worse performance for more money. If Finland can’t afford – or only barely can – F-35A, then not much hope for B.

What size should the armed forces be? Let’s say the army of Finland is zero, what will happen?

Some other country’s army will come to take care of Finland’s defense.

In dish antenna radar (like in F-4 etc. 60s/70s fighters), radar beam is focussed by reflecting it from dish shaped antenna.
In planar array (or slotted array), the antenna is flat, consisting of many small emitters, and radar beam is focussed by cleverly time shifting individual emitters. The antenna is then moved mechanically to steer the beam, just like in dish antenna radar.
In phased array, not only beam is focussed by phase shifting, it can be moved as well (see this wiki image), making mechanical steering unnecessary. Though some ESA radars still have mechanical steering as well.

I don’t understand your problem either. I’ve stated fact, you call this “rabid defense”. I would ask you the same question; why your baseless “rabid” accusations? I don’t love M-60T or M-60 of any kind, I am not comfortable AT ALL with the fact Leo2A4s didn’t offer anything above a mere M-60T in terms of both armor and crew survivability. But facts are facts, neither you or I get to twist them.

There is no shortage of destroyed M60’s from Yemen, for example.
The idea that M60 is better protected than Leopard 2A4 is laughable.

So…USA moving tac air troops to Syria?

Finland has always been a very smart buyer, the purchase of surplus well maintained Hawk trainers for Switzerland is one example. Another example is the recent purchase of the K-9 Thunder Howitzer from South Korea. Brand new a K-9 has pretty much the same capabilities as a PZH2000 at a cheaper price, Finland is buying 48 refurbished to as new condition K9 at an even cheaper price.

FDF has an office for sole purpose of scouring market of used military equipment & quickly moving in to secure the deal if they find something which fit the requirements…

how willing is finland to ally nato & sweden respectively ?

Most Finns are “Nato skeptics” and the idea is not that popular with the public.
Finland would like to ally with Sweden, but it never works out due to very incoherent Swedish defense policy.

Yes, it’s completely unthinkable that a country would stage a military operation to seize territories it sees wrongfully taken from it…