NE DEFENCE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT 6
With the Indian Air Force preparing for another change at the top, the Government has appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, entrusting the command of the IAF to a fighter pilot, experimental test pilot and seasoned operational commander with nearly four decades of service. Dixit will assume charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who superannuates the same day.
- Vice Chief of the Air Staff to take over as Air Chief Marshal on October 31, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
- Nearly four decades of fighter flying, operational command and key strategic assignments behind his elevation
- Over 3,500 hours of flying experience across Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas and other aircraft
- Decorated officer has served as CISC at HQ IDS and AOC-in-C, Central Air Command; participated in major operations and exercises
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, and has since held a range of operational, command and staff appointments.
Before taking over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Dixit served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command.
Born on December 9, 1966, Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Bangladesh, and National Defence College.
A qualified Experimental Test Pilot and Flying Instructor, Dixit has accumulated more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, variants of MiG, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas.
His operational career has included participation in Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. Earlier, he commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.
The Air Marshal has also held several significant field and staff appointments during his career, contributing to the operational capability and preparedness of the Indian Air Force.
His distinguished service has been recognised with the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.
The appointment comes at a significant juncture for the IAF, with operational preparedness, indigenous aerospace capability, unmanned systems, technology integration and modernisation emerging as important dimensions of India’s evolving air-power requirements. Dixit himself has recently been associated with the IAF’s efforts to engage the domestic unmanned-systems ecosystem through Dronathon-2026, reflecting the service’s growing focus on emerging technologies.
The change of command will take place on October 31, when Air Marshal Dixit assumes the responsibility of leading the Indian Air Force as its 29th Chief of the Air Staff.