Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on October 31, 2026. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who superannuated after 42 years of service to the nation.
Before taking over as the Air Chief, Dixit served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge on October 31, 2026.
He is the 29th Chief of the Air Staff.
He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
He previously served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 1986.
He has more than 3,300 hours of flying experience.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Chief Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. His career spans four decades and includes extensive experience in operations, flight testing, capability development and joint staff assignments.
He has more than 3,300 hours of flying experience on various aircraft. His professional experience includes fighter operations, aircraft modernisation and defence planning.
Air Chief Marshal Dixit played an important role in finalising the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade projects and in completing the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) activities of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-I Tejas programme.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The Chief of the Air Staff heads the Indian Air Force and oversees its operational preparedness, strategic planning, capability development and modernisation priorities. The leadership transition comes at a time when the service continues to strengthen its operational and technological capabilities.
His operational command assignments include command of a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, an important fighter training base of the Indian Air Force.
Over his career, he has also held several senior operational and staff appointments, contributing to the Indian Air Force's operational preparedness, modernisation and capability development.
His assumption of charge marks a change in the senior leadership of the Indian Air Force as it continues to strengthen its operational capabilities and modernisation programmes.
