Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force on October 31, 2026. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who superannuated after 42 years of distinguished service to the nation.
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. With four decades of service, he brings extensive experience in operational roles, flight testing, capability development and joint defence assignments.
An accomplished fighter pilot, Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, he has accumulated more than 3,300 hours of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, various MiG variants, Jaguar and several transport aircraft.
Air Chief Marshal Dixit has played a significant role in the modernisation of the Indian Air Force. He was instrumental in finalising the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade programmes and contributed to the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) processes of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-I Tejas.
His operational command experience includes commanding a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, one of the IAF’s premier fighter training establishments.
During his career, he held several key appointments, including Air Defence Commander at Southern Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. In these roles, he was associated with major capability development and defence procurement initiatives.
He subsequently served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command before taking over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee. He held the latter appointment during Operation SINDOOR. Prior to his elevation as Chief of the Air Staff, he served as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
An accomplished academic and military professional, Air Chief Marshal Dixit is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
In recognition of his distinguished service to the nation, he has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VM), Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM).
With his extensive operational experience, expertise in fighter aviation and involvement in the IAF’s modernisation programmes, Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge of the Indian Air Force at a time when technological advancement, indigenous defence capabilities and operational preparedness remain key priorities.
