Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Saturday took charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retired after four decades in uniform. A fighter pilot with over 3,500 flying hours, Dixit moves into the top post after serving as Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The change of command followed a ceremonial farewell for Singh in New Delhi. The outgoing chief received a guard of honour before handing over charge. Singh had led the IAF since September 2024.
The government announced Dixit’s appointment on October 6. He will head the force at a time when it is working to add new fighter aircraft, upgrade existing fleets and increase the use of equipment made in India.
Ashutosh Dixit’s flying career and training
Born on December 9, 1966, Dixit joined the fighter stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986. He trained at the National Defence Academy and later attended the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College.
He is an experimental test pilot and a qualified flying instructor. His more than 3,500 hours in the cockpit cover several types of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG fighters, Jaguar, Hawk, Kiran, IL-78 and the indigenous Tejas.
The Ministry of Defence has said that Dixit has been associated with operations and exercises such as Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil conflict, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor and key IAF command roles
Dixit has held both flying command and planning assignments. While commanding No. 9 Squadron, he oversaw its transition to Mirage-2000 aircraft. He later commanded a frontline fighter base in western India and a leading fighter training base in the southern sector.
His other responsibilities included serving as Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command. At Air Headquarters, he worked as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff for Projects and later for Plans, assignments linked to the force’s equipment requirements and future capabilities.
He subsequently served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff and as head of Central Air Command. In May 2025, he became Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, a post involving coordination among the armed services. He took over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff in July 2026.
Tejas fighter jets and India’s defence self-reliance
Dixit has been closely associated with the IAF’s efforts to develop and introduce Indian-made aircraft. His new appointment puts him in charge as the force awaits deliveries of the Tejas Mk-1A fighter, a programme that has faced delays.
The IAF has ordered 180 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft in two batches. Their induction is expected to help replace older fighters, while the Air Force continues work on other purchases and upgrades.
Dixit’s record of working on aircraft projects is also expected to support the government’s Aatmanirbharta policy, which seeks to reduce dependence on imported defence equipment.
Awards received by Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit
For his service, Dixit 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.
