Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as India’s 29th Air Force Chief, succeeds AP Singh

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as 29th Chief of the Air Staff on Saturday (October 31), succeeding Amar Preet Singh. Dixit has held key operational and strategic appointments, including CISC, HQ IDS and AOC-in-C, Central Air Command. He is an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor with more than 3,500 hours of flying experience.

Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit?

The Government of India officially announced the appointment on 6 October 2026, capping nearly 40 years of service for Air Marshal Dixit. He was born on 9 December 1966 and joined the Indian Air Force's fighter stream on 6 December 1986. His academic background includes the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College.

Over his career, he has flown a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, several MiG variants, the Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk, and the homegrown Tejas. His command experience spans a frontline fighter base in the Western Sector as well as a leading fighter training base in the Southern Sector. He has also been part of several major operations and exercises throughout his career, among them Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Sindoor.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit's major achievements

Before taking charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 July 2026, 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 Central Air Command. For accomplishing major achievements, Dixit has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).