Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit officially assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on October 31, 2026, marking a change in the leadership of India’s air power establishment. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retired after completing 42 years of distinguished service to the nation. Before his appointment, Air Chief Marshal Dixit was serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Air Chief Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. His military career spans nearly four decades, during which he has gained extensive experience in operational flying, flight testing, capability development and joint defence assignments.
A qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, Dixit has accumulated more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on various aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG-series fighters, Jaguar and several transport aircraft. His extensive exposure to different aircraft platforms and operational environments has contributed to his experience in fighter operations and aviation development.
Throughout his career, he has held several important operational and command appointments within the Indian Air Force. These include commanding a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, one of the IAF’s key fighter training establishments. He also served as Air Defence Commander at Southern Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command.
Dixit’s contribution to India’s military aviation modernisation has been particularly significant. He played an important role in finalising the Jaguar and MiG-27 aircraft upgrade programmes and was associated with the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) processes of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1 Tejas. His involvement in these programmes reflects his experience in strengthening the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force and supporting the development of indigenous military aviation platforms.
Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command and subsequently as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC). During his tenure in the joint defence establishment, he was associated with important tri-service coordination responsibilities, including the period of Operation Sindoor.
His professional qualifications include graduation from the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College in New Delhi. In recognition of his distinguished service, he has received several military honours, including the Vayu Sena Medal (VM), Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM).
His appointment comes at an important time for the Indian Air Force as it continues to pursue modernisation, strengthen combat capabilities and expand the integration of indigenous defence technologies. With extensive experience in fighter operations, aircraft development and capability planning, Air Chief Marshal Dixit takes over the leadership of the service with a strong background in both operational and strategic defence matters.
As the new Chief of the Air Staff, he will lead the Indian Air Force through its ongoing capability development and modernisation programmes while overseeing its operational preparedness and future force requirements.