Ashutosh Dixit Appointed 29th Chief of the Air Staff | New IAF Chief Takes Charge
Ashutosh Dixit Named 29th Chief of the Air Staff
New Delhi: The Government of India on Tuesday appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff. He will assume the rank of Air Chief Marshal and become the 29th head of the Indian Air Force.
Ashutosh Dixit, currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will take charge from Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on 31 October 2026.
Born on 9 December 1966, Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986. An Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, he has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas.
During his distinguished career, Ashutosh Dixit has commanded a Mirage 2000 squadron, a frontline fighter base in the Western sector, and a premier fighter training base. He has also served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff before becoming Vice Chief.
Ashutosh Dixit has taken part in major operations including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. His service has been recognised with the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College, Ashutosh Dixit steps into the role at a time when the Indian Air Force is undergoing significant modernisation. The force is expanding its combat fleet while strengthening air defence, unmanned systems, counter-drone capabilities and network-centric warfare. Closer inter-service coordination and jointness will remain key priorities under his leadership.
The appointment of Ashutosh Dixit as the new Chief of the Air Staff underscores the Indian Air Force’s emphasis on experienced operational leaders with both service and tri-service exposure.
