New Delhi: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the 29th chief of Indian Air Force (IAF). He will take charge on October 31.
Air Marshal Dixit, currently the Vice Chief, will take over as Air Chief Marshal from Amar Preet Singh, who had led the IAF during Operation Sindoor on May 7, and the four-day conflict with Pakistan that followed.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Dixit completed the Staff Course in Bangladesh and graduated from the National Defence College in New Delhi. He was commissioned into the IAF’s fighter stream on December 6, 1986 at the age of 20. An experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor, he has more than 3,500 flying hours.
He has been closely involved in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme, and has flown the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk besides Tejas.
Air Marshal Dixit’s operational experience during his almost four decades of service includes taking part in Operation Safed Sagar and Operation Rakshak.
He headed the Central Air Command and also served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Dixit was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.
