Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Takes Charge as 29th IAF Chief
He succeeds Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who retired after 42 years of service; Dixit brings four decades of experience in operations, flight testing and capability development.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 31st Oct: Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Saturday assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He succeeds Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who superannuated after completing 42 years of distinguished service.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Dixit was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. His career spans four decades, covering operational assignments, flight testing, capability development and joint staff responsibilities.
Extensive Flying Experience
An accomplished fighter pilot, Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, Dixit has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying experience. He has flown several aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar and transport aircraft.
He has also played a key role in the modernisation of the Indian Air Force. His contributions include the finalisation of the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade projects and the completion of Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) activities for the LCA Mk-I Tejas.
Key Command and Leadership Assignments
Dixit’s operational command experience includes leading a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, a major fighter training base.
He has held several senior positions, including Air Defence Commander at Southern Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. He later served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee during Operation Sindoor.
Before taking over as the Air Chief, he served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
Awards and Professional Training
Dixit is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College in New Delhi.
His distinguished service has been recognised with the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal.
