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Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, a fighter pilot with nearly four decades of operational, command and strategic experience, will take over as the next Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, 2026.
The government has announced the appointment of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, a fighter pilot with nearly four decades of operational, command and strategic experience, as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force, to take over on October 31, 2026.
Air Marshal Dixit, currently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will become the 29th Chief of the Indian Air Force, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on October 31.
Air Marshal Dixit, currently the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will become the 29th Chief of the Indian Air Force
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986, Dixit has flown more than 3,500 hours on over 20 types of aircraft. His flying experience includes the Mirage 2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas. He is also an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor.
Dixit has had extensive operational exposure, including during Operation Safed Sagar in the Kargil conflict and Operation Rakshak. His career has taken him through frontline fighter squadrons, test flying, training, air defence and senior operational commands.
Air Marshal Dixit's career has taken him through frontline fighter squadrons, test flying, training, air defence and senior operational commands
He commanded a Mirage 2000 squadron and later a frontline fighter base in the Western Sector. He also commanded a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector. His experience with the Mirage 2000 and indigenous aircraft programmes has given him a close understanding of both combat operations and the challenges involved in modernising the IAF.
His career has also been closely linked to aircraft testing and acquisition. At the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment in Bengaluru, he worked on flight-test activities and aircraft upgrade programmes, including the Jaguar and MiG-27. Additionally, as a Director of Air Staff Requirements, he was involved in the trials for the long-running Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft programme.
Dixit subsequently held several important appointments in the IAF's planning and acquisition machinery, including Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.
Dixit earlier served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, where he worked on issues relating to greater integration and jointness among the three-armed forces
He has also built considerable experience in joint military planning. Before becoming Vice Chief, Dixit served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, where he worked on issues relating to greater integration and jointness among the three-armed forces. Earlier, he had served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command.
Dixit's experience in operations, testing, acquisition and jointmanship could prove important as the IAF seeks to balance immediate combat requirements with the longer-term transition towards a more technology-driven force.
His record has been recognised with the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal.
Dixit's experience in operations, testing, acquisition and jointmanship could prove important as the IAF seeks to balance immediate combat requirements with the longer-term transition towards a more technology-driven force
The change of command will therefore come at an important moment for the IAF. Dixit will inherit a force facing an increasingly complex security environment, but also one undergoing a major technological transformation.
His challenge will be to ensure that modernisation does not remain confined to plans and projects, but translates into combat capability within a clearly defined timeframe.
Manish Kumar Jha is a Consulting & Contributing Editor for SP's Aviation, SP's Land Forces and SP's Naval Forces and a security expert. He writes on national security, military technology, strategic affairs & policies.
