Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the 29th Chief of the Indian Air Force and will assume charge on October 31, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who is set to retire the same day.
Dixit, who is currently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will take over as Air Chief Marshal. Singh served as the IAF chief during Operation Sindoor and the military confrontation with Pakistan in May 2025.
A fighter pilot with nearly four decades of service, Dixit has extensive experience in flying, testing and operational roles. He has also played an important part in India’s indigenous aviation programmes, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project.
Extensive Flying and Operational Experience
Born on December 9, 1966, Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986. An experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor, he has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying.
During his career, Dixit has flown several aircraft platforms, including the Mirage-2000, MiG series, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas. His operational experience includes participation in Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.
He has commanded a Mirage-2000 fighter squadron, a frontline fighter base in the western sector and a fighter training establishment in the southern sector.
Before taking over as Vice Chief, Dixit headed the Central Air Command. He subsequently served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Experience in Planning and Air Force Modernisation
Dixit has also served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, where his responsibilities included areas related to planning, policy and the development of operational capabilities.
At Air Headquarters, he held several key appointments, including Principal Director of Air Staff Requirements, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans).
His other senior assignments include Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer of South Western Air Command.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Dixit completed the Staff Course in Bangladesh and later graduated from the National Defence College in New Delhi.
His service has been recognised with several 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.
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