Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed 29th Chief of the Air Staff

The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. He will assume the rank of Air Chief Marshal and take charge from the afternoon of October 31, 2026.

Air Marshal Dixit is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who is scheduled to superannuate from service on October 31, 2026.

Nearly Four Decades in the Indian Air Force

Born on December 9, 1966, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. His career has spanned close to four decades and includes extensive operational, command, training and strategic-level responsibilities.

Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. He has also served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, giving him experience across both joint-services planning and major operational commands.

Extensive Fighter and Test-Flying Experience

Air Marshal Dixit has accumulated more than 3,500 hours of flying experience across a wide range of aircraft. These include the Mirage 2000, multiple MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, Hawk, IL-78 and Tejas.

He is also an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor, credentials that reflect his long association with aircraft evaluation, operational flying and pilot training.

His experience across frontline fighters, trainers and support aircraft gives him a broad understanding of the Indian Air Force’s combat and training ecosystem at a time when the service is pursuing fleet modernisation, indigenous aircraft induction and higher levels of operational preparedness.

Experience in Major Military Operations

During his service, Air Marshal Dixit has participated in several important military operations and exercises. These include Operation Safed Sagar, conducted during the Kargil conflict, Operation Rakshak, and the more recent Operation Sindoor.

This operational exposure has been complemented by senior command responsibilities. He has commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector as well as a major fighter training base in the Southern Sector.

His appointments have therefore covered combat operations, pilot training, air-base command, integrated defence planning and higher air-force leadership.

Academic and Professional Training

Air Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College.

These institutions form an important part of the professional military education system for senior officers, preparing them for increasingly complex command, strategic and joint-service responsibilities.

Decorated for Distinguished Service

Air Marshal Dixit’s service has been recognised through several major military honours. He received the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.

The progression of these awards reflects his sustained contribution across operational, instructional and senior leadership assignments.

Leadership Transition Comes During Major IAF Modernisation

Air Marshal Dixit will take charge of the Indian Air Force at a significant stage in its transformation. The service is simultaneously strengthening combat readiness, expanding indigenous aircraft programmes, upgrading air-defence capabilities and integrating newer generations of weapons, sensors and networked systems.

His experience with frontline fighters, experimental test flying, joint-service structures and operational commands gives him a particularly broad professional background for this transition.

The appointment also ensures continuity at the highest level of the Indian Air Force as it moves deeper into a period shaped by indigenous aerospace development, force modernisation and increasingly integrated military operations.

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References

• Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, “Government appoints Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)”, October 6, 2026.

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