Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as 29th chief of the Indian Air Force

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 succeeded Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, who retired after 42 years of service. The formal handover took place at the Race Course Air Force Station in New Delhi, where Singh received a ceremonial guard of honour before transferring command.

Dixit was born on December 9, 1966, and commissioned into the fighter stream on December 6, 1986. He is an experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor with more than 3,500 hours on more than 20 aircraft types, including the Mirage-2000, Jaguar, MiG variants, Tejas, Hawk and IL-78. His operational commands included a Mirage-2000 squadron, a forward base support unit in the western sector, and Air Force Station Bidar.

Before becoming Vice Chief, Dixit served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command. He held the post of Deputy Chief of the Air Staff earlier in his career and contributed to the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade programs as well as the Initial and Final Operational Clearance of the LCA Tejas. He participated in Operations Safed Sagar, Rakshak and Sindoor.

The government appointed him on October 6 to take over on the afternoon of October 31. His tenure begins as the IAF continues a modernization program that includes additional fighter aircraft, air-defense systems, drones and communications upgrades approved after Operation Sindoor. Current fighter squadron strength stands at 29 against a sanctioned 42, creating pressure for accelerated inductions.

Dixit has emphasized indigenous platforms in previous roles. As chief he will oversee further integration of Tejas variants and other domestic systems into the operational fleet. The IAF is also expanding its network of forward bases and refining joint operations procedures with the Army and Navy.

Singh’s retirement followed a 43-year career that included command of major formations and service as chief during recent operational periods. The transition maintains continuity in ongoing procurement and training programs. Dixit’s combination of test-pilot experience and senior joint-staff postings positions him to address both technical modernization and inter-service coordination requirements.

No major policy shifts were announced at the handover. The immediate tasks include completing ongoing upgrade contracts, managing squadron strength shortfalls, and implementing the post-Sindoor capability enhancements already funded by the Defence Ministry. The new chief will present his first detailed assessment of force readiness to the government in the coming weeks.