Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Assumes Charge as 29th IAF Chief

Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on the afternoon of 31 October 2026. He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retired after 42 years of service. The Government of India appointed Dixit, then Vice Chief of the Air Staff, to the post on 6 October 2026.

Dixit was born on 9 December 1966. He was commissioned into the fighter stream on 6 December 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College. He holds the qualifications of experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor.

His flying experience exceeds 3,500 hours across more than 20 aircraft types. These include the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas, Hawk, Kiran, An-32 and IL-78. Operational assignments cover Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. He commanded a Mirage-2000 squadron, a forward base support unit in the western sector and Air Force Station Bidar, a major fighter training base.

Before becoming Vice Chief on 1 July 2026, Dixit served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command and as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee. In the latter role he participated in joint planning during Operation Sindoor. He received the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.

Upon taking charge he outlined a vision under the acronym VAYU. The IAF statement noted his experience across operations, flight testing, capability development and joint staff assignments. The appointment places a test pilot with recent integrated defence experience at the head of the force at a time when the Tejas programme and other indigenous platforms continue induction.

The tenure is scheduled to run until 31 December 2028. Outgoing chief Amar Preet Singh led the air force through the May 2025 conflict with Pakistan. Dixit's prior command of Central Air Command and his role at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff give him direct exposure to both western-sector operations and tri-service coordination.

No major policy announcement accompanied the assumption of charge beyond the VAYU framing. The immediate tasks include completing ongoing aircraft inductions, managing training pipelines at bases such as Bidar and sustaining readiness across the commands. The Param Vishisht Seva Medal awarded in 2026 recognises the most recent phase of his service.

The transition occurs without reported controversy over the selection. Dixit moves from the vice chief position he held for four months. The four-decade career path from squadron command through integrated staff to the top appointment follows the standard progression for IAF chiefs. His test-pilot background distinguishes him among recent incumbents.

The Indian Air Force now operates under a chief whose flying hours include both legacy platforms and the Tejas. The next public statements from Air Headquarters will indicate how the VAYU priorities translate into specific procurement or training targets over the remaining two years of the tenure.