Defence / Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed Next IAF Chief, to Assume Office on October 31

New Delhi, Oct 6: The Narendra Modi government on Tuesday appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff, entrusting the veteran fighter pilot and current Vice Chief of the Air Staff with the leadership of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a time when the force is pursuing fleet modernisation and greater indigenous capability under the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

According to a government notification issued with the approval of the President, Air Marshal Dixit will assume charge in the substantive rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026. He will succeed incumbent Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on the same day, and is scheduled to serve until December 31, 2028.

Air Marshal Dixit is currently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff and is regarded as one of the IAF's most experienced operational commanders.

A qualified flying instructor, he has logged more than 3,500 flying hours across a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, IL-78, Hawk and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College, Air Marshal Dixit has had a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades.

During his service, he has participated in several major operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. He has also held several key command and staff appointments, including command of a frontline fighter air base in the western sector and a premier fighter training base in the southern sector.

Before taking over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.
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The decorated officer has been conferred the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026) in recognition of his distinguished service.

Having closely witnessed the induction and advancement of indigenous platforms, including the LCA Tejas programme, Air Marshal Dixit is expected to play a key role in steering the Indian Air Force's modernisation plans and strengthening the country's push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing and aerospace capability.