Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as new IAF Chief

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 31, 2026: Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, an accomplished fighter pilot with over 3,500 hours of flying experience across more than 20 types of aircraft, on Saturday took charge as the new Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

He succeeds Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, who retired after an illustrious 43-year career in the force.

The IAF accorded a ceremonial guard of honour to Air Chief Marshal Singh at the Race Course Air Force Station before he handed over charge to Dixit.

Air Chief Marshal Dixit, who was serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, played a key role in strategic planning during Operation Sindoor.

With a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades, he has held several important command, staff and instructional positions.

Born on December 9, 1966, Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986.

Before becoming Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. Earlier, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College, Dixit has extensive flying experience on aircraft including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas.

He is an experimental test pilot and a qualified flying instructor.

During his service, Dixit participated in several major operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.

He has also commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern sector.