Last Updated:
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is known for pushing the indigenous LCA Tejas and other indigenous aircraft projects in the force.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed New IAF Chief
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the new Chief of the Indian Air Force. He will succeed the current Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh superannuates office on October 31.
Air Marshal Dixit is majorly known for pushing the indigenous LCA Tejas and other indigenous aircraft projects in the force. He is expected to further promote the government’s Aatmanirbharta initiative in defence.
Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Staff Service College in Bangladesh and National Defence College. He has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on various aircrafts including to name a few; Mirage-2000, variants of Mig, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, HAWK and Tejas. He is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor. During his service career spanning approximately four decades, he has been actively involved in numerous operations and exercises including Op-Sated Sagar, Op-Rakshak and Op Sindoor.
Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit?
Air Marshal Dixit, service number 18558 F(P), belongs to the fighter stream and was commissioned as part of the 138 Course. According to reports, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on December 6, 1991, Wing Commander on May 5, 2003, Group Captain on March 1, 2009, and Air Commodore on June 17, 2013.
He became Air Vice Marshal on June 11, 2019, Air Marshal on October 1, 2022 and Commander-in-Chief on September 1, 2024. His training includes the 69th National Defence Academy course as a cadet and the 57th National Defence College course as an Air Commodore.
During his illustrious career, the Air Marshal has held a number of significant field and staff appointments. He commanded a front-line fighter air base in Western Sector and a premiere fighter training base in Southern Sector.
Held key operational and project posts
Dixit served as Commanding Officer of No 9 Squadron in Gwalior between December 15, 2003 and January 15, 2006. He also served as Principal Director, Air Staff Requirements, at Air Headquarters in Delhi. He was Air Officer Commanding at Air Force Station Bidar from January 2018 to May 2019 and later served as Air Defence Commander with Southern Air Command in Trivandrum.
From October 2020 to September 2021, he was Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Projects, at Air Headquarters. He then served as Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Plans, from October 2021 to September 2022.
As an Air Marshal, Dixit served as Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command, Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command in Allahabad. He later served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, from May 2025 to June 2026. Since July 2026, he has been serving as Principal Staff Officer, Operations, at Air Headquarters, Delhi, and Vice Chief of Air Staff.
Sena Medals
Air Marshal Dixit has received three awards, as per reports – the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006 for devotion to duty. As Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron, Dixit oversaw its rejuvenation and re-equipping with Mirage-2000 aircraft. He also played a key role in the acceptance flights and ferrying of 10 new Mirage-2000 aircraft from France to India.
The Vishisht Seva Medal was awarded to him in 2011. He has flown 3,200 hours on more than 20 types of aircraft and had served as a Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot. he ahs also worked on indigenous upgrade projects for Jaguar and MiG-27 aircraft, as well as his role in the technical evaluation and field trials of aircraft under the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft programme.
He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the new Chief of the Indian Air Force, succeeding Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.
Ask News18About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As…Read More
Delhi, India, India
October 06, 2026, 6:30 PM IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
