The Centre has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff, making him the 29th officer to head the Indian Air Force. Dixit, who is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will assume charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026.
NEW DELHI: The Centre has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff, making him the 29th officer to head the Indian Air Force. Dixit, who is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will assume charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026.
Dixit will succeed Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who is scheduled to retire on October 31. Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1986, Dixit has completed nearly four decades of service and has held several key operational, command and strategic positions. He has served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.
An Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, Dixit has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on aircraft including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas. His operational career includes participation in Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. He has also been honoured with the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal for his service.