IAF chief says India needs to produce 30-40 fighter aircraft to replace ageing fleet. Why he sounded an alarm bell

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is at an important stage where it needs to upgrade its fleet while also supporting India's goal of making its own fighter jets. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Friday spoke about the tough choice between choosing the best-performing aircraft and relying on Indian-made jets. He supports homegrown fighter jets, even though they are better foreign alternatives, because they help India become more self-sufficient in defence. However, he also criticised Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for delays, raising concerns about whether India's aircraft industry can meet the IAF's needs on time. Advertisement Between self-reliance and combat-readiness?…