The Government of India announced on Tuesday that Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the sitting Vice Chief of the Air Staff, will become the 29th Chief of the Indian Air Force, taking over on 31 October 2026.
Dixit, 59, earned his commission in December 1986 and has logged over 3,500 flight hours across a spectrum of aircraft—from the Mirage‑2000 to the cutting‑edge Tejas. His operational tenure includes key deployments in Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Sindoor, and he has commanded the Central Air Command before serving as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
The Air Marshal’s decorated career features the Vayu Sena Medal (2006), Vishisht Seva Medal (2011), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2023) and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2026). He also trained as an experimental test pilot and a qualified flying instructor, giving him a dual perspective on aircraft development and frontline tactics.
The IAF is amid a major transformation, expanding its combat fleet, enhancing air‑defence, and integrating unmanned and network‑centric warfare capabilities. Dixit’s appointment is seen as a move to tighten coordination across the tri‑service forces and accelerate joint operational readiness.
With his ascension, the Air Force will soon launch a new modernization roadmap slated for review by the Defence Ministry in November, aiming to upgrade procurement schedules and accelerate indigenisation of key platforms.