Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Named Next Air Chief
Dixit will take charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on October 31, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
- Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named 29th Air Chief
- Dixit to take charge on October 31
- He has over 3,500 hours of flying experience
- Decorated officer with four major service honours
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th Oct: The Government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, currently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS).
Dixit will take charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026, succeeding the incumbent Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who will superannuate on the same day.
Born on December 9, 1966, Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. His career spans nearly four decades, during which he has held several key operational and staff appointments.
Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Dixit served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Command & Staff College, Bangladesh, and National Defence College, Dixit has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience.
He has flown several aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas. He is also an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor.
During his service, Dixit has been associated with several operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.
He has also commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.
Dixit has received several military honours for his service. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.
The Government said his contributions in various operational and organisational assignments have strengthened the operational capability of the Indian Air Force.
