The Government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He will assume the appointment in the rank of Air Chief Marshal with effect from the afternoon of 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who will superannuate on the same day.
Born on 09 December 1966, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on 06 December 1986. Prior to his appointment 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, Central Air Command.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Bangladesh, and National Defence College, Air Marshal Dixit has accumulated more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas. He is also an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor.
During a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, Air Marshal Dixit has participated in several major operations and exercises, including Op-Sated Sagar, Op-Rakshak and Op-Sindoor. He has held several important command and staff appointments, including command of a front-line fighter air base in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.
In various operational and staff capacities, Air Marshal Dixit has made significant contributions towards enhancing the operational preparedness and combat capability of the Indian Air Force.
In recognition of his exemplary and distinguished service, he has been conferred the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023), and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).
His appointment as the next Chief of the Air Staff marks another significant milestone in his distinguished service career and comes at a time when the Indian Air Force continues to strengthen its operational readiness, technological capabilities and preparedness across the full spectrum of aerial operations.
