India's government on Tuesday appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force. He will take over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff in the rank of Air Chief Marshal on the afternoon of October 31, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires the same day.
The Ministry of Defence announced the appointment in a statement, noting that Dixit will remain in the post until December 31, 2028.
A decorated career of nearly four decades
Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. An experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor, he has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying on aircraft including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, IL-78, Hawk and the indigenous LCA Tejas.
His operational record spans several major operations, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.
Command and honours
In the field, Dixit has commanded a frontline fighter air base in the western sector and a premier fighter training base in the southern sector. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College in New Delhi.
His distinguished service has been recognised with 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. He will take command of the force as it continues its push for indigenisation and joint military integration.
Sources: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed next IAF chief — The Hindu BusinessLine | Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit? Op Sindoor and Safed Sagar veteran appointed new IAF chief — Hindustan Times
The Ministry of Defence announced the appointment in a statement, noting that Dixit will remain in the post until December 31, 2028.
A decorated career of nearly four decades
Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. An experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor, he has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying on aircraft including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, IL-78, Hawk and the indigenous LCA Tejas.
His operational record spans several major operations, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.
Command and honours
In the field, Dixit has commanded a frontline fighter air base in the western sector and a premier fighter training base in the southern sector. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College in New Delhi.
His distinguished service has been recognised with 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. He will take command of the force as it continues its push for indigenisation and joint military integration.
Sources: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed next IAF chief — The Hindu BusinessLine | Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit? Op Sindoor and Safed Sagar veteran appointed new IAF chief — Hindustan Times
