Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, is set to take charge 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 replace 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 senior-most post in the Indian Air Force. 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.
Operational flying and command experience
Air Marshal Dixit is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor. He has flown more than 3,500 hours on several aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, variants of the MiG, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and the indigenous Tejas. His service record includes command of a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.
His career has also included participation in major operations and exercises such as Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor. These references indicate experience across combat-related and training environments within the force.
Earlier appointments and honours
Before becoming 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. 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 change will also bring a new Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, currently Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command, has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff with effect from 1 November 2026.
According to the announcement, Air Marshal Dixit’s background in operational flying, test flying and tri-service appointments is expected to support the Indian Air Force’s focus on operational readiness, indigenous capability development and closer jointness across the services.
