The Government of India has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of India. He will assume the charge on 31 October, 2026 and be promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM.
Today, we walk you through the journey of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and how he rose to the highest office of the Indian Air Force through his service.
Early Life and Commissioning
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was born on 9 December, 1966 and the dream of joining the Indian Air Force prompted him to clear the Air Force Selection Board or AFSB interview.
He joined the 69th Course at the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, Pune and after three years of training, he reached the Air Force Academy at Dundigal, which is where air warriors are built. Here, he passed out of the 138th Course and was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 6 December, 1986.
During his tenure, he also became an alumnus of Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh and National Defence College in New Delhi. These institutions helped him develop the experience that proved to be essential during his almost four decades of service.
Operational and Command Experience
After getting commissioned as a Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit joined the No. 9 Squadron or “The Wolfpack”. Through his service, he became an experimental test pilot, a qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, and flew aircraft such as the HPT-32, AN-32, AVRO, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78 and HAWK, taking his flying experience to over 3300 hours.
Interestingly, he has also held several important appointments during his career. As a Commanding Officer of No. 9 Squadron, he ensured its re-equipment with the Mirage 2000. Later, he commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector and a fighter training base in the Southern Sector. He also served as a Directing Staff at the Air Force Test Pilots School.
Additionally, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit also participated in Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, Operation Sindoor and the Cope India military exercise.
Leadership Roles
But this isn’t all. In fact, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit went on to hold key leadership positions as well. He held appointments at the Air Headquarters and within operational commands. These include:
- Principal Director Air Staff Requirement
- Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects)
- Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans)
- Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command
- Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command
- Deputy Chief of the Air Staff
After making his way through these positions of responsibility, on 1 September, 2024, he took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command. Here, he majorly focused on operational readiness. As per the Ministry of Defence, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit significantly contributed to future technologies, IAF modernisation, and “Aatmanirbharta” or self-reliance.
Then came the role of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) in 2025. It was this very position that exposed the officer to jointness and integration among the tri-services. Finally, on 1 July, 2026, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was appointed as the Vice Chief of Air Staff.
Awards and Decorations
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit’s career has been recognised through several military decorations. These include the:
- Vayu Sena Medal in 2006
- Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011
- Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023
- Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026
Final Thoughts
The career of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, involving his experience with fighter operations, aircraft evaluation, capability development and joint military planning, will be an important foundation as the Indian Air Force continues its transition towards a more technologically advanced and integrated force.
