Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit: Meet India's new Air Force chief who served in Operation Sindoor, Op Rakshak

Born on December 9, 1966, Dixit joined the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. Over nearly four decades of service, he has held several operational, training and senior command positions.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, a fighter pilot with more than 3,500 hours of flying experience, will take charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff after incumbent Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh retires on October 31. Dixit is currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

“I am directed to convey the approval of the President for appointment of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM as the next Chief of the Air Staff in the substantive rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of 31st October, 2026, with a tenure up to 31st December, 2028,” the notification from the Defence Ministry reads.

Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit?

Air Marshal Dixit has played an important role in the induction and development of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and several other aircraft programmes. His experience is expected to support the government's focus on Aatmanirbharta, or self-reliance, in defence, news agency ANI reported.

Born on December 9, 1966, Dixit joined the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. Over nearly four decades of service, he has held several operational, training and senior command positions.

He has experience flying several types of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, different MiG variants, Jaguar, Kiran, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas, according to ANI.

Dixit is also an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor. His career has therefore involved both operational flying and testing new aircraft and their capabilities.

The Air Marshal has taken part in several important military operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.

Before taking over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Dixit served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

Earlier, he headed the Central Air Command as its Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief. The command is among the Indian Air Force's major operational commands.

The government has credited his service in various appointments with helping strengthen the operational capabilities of the Indian Air Force.

Dixit has received several military awards during his career. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, followed by the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011. He received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026, according to a Ministry of Defence release.

The Param Vishisht Seva Medal is among India's highest military honours for distinguished service.

Dixit studied at the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College, and the National Defence College.

About the Author

Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.

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