Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, currently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will assume office as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of 31 October 2026. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who is scheduled to superannuate on the same day.
The Government of India announced the appointment on 6 October 2026. Air Marshal Dixit brings nearly four decades of service to the top post. Born on 9 December 1966, he was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College, Bangladesh, and the National Defence College.
An Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor, Air Marshal Dixit has logged more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on a range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, variants of the MiG, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and the indigenous Tejas. He has commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector. During his career, he has participated in major operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.
Prior to taking over 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. In recognition of his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026).
The leadership transition coincides with the appointment of Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, currently Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command, as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff with effect from 1 November 2026.
Air Marshal Dixit’s extensive operational, test-flying and tri-service experience is expected to guide the Indian Air Force in enhancing operational readiness, advancing indigenous capability development and strengthening jointness across the services.
