Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, a distinguished fighter pilot and experimental test pilot, has been appointed as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). He is set to assume command on the afternoon of October 31, 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who will superannuate on the same day. Currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Dixit brings nearly four decades of extensive experience to this pivotal role, overseeing the IAF's modernisation and indigenous aircraft programmes.
A Career Defined by Flight and Innovation
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot, having logged more than 3,500 flying hours across a diverse range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas, Hawk, IL-78, An-32, Avro, Kiran, and HPT-32.
His operational experience is significant, with active participation in Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil conflict and Operation Rakshak. He has also been involved in major exercises such as Cope India and Operation Sindoor, demonstrating his strategic acumen and combat readiness.
Driving Indigenous Defence Capabilities
A cornerstone of Air Marshal Dixit’s career has been his deep involvement in aircraft testing, modernisation, and capability development. This makes his appointment particularly crucial as the IAF intensifies its focus on achieving greater indigenous content in its combat fleet, aligning with the "Atmanirbharta" (self-reliance) initiative.
As a test pilot and later the Commanding Officer of the Flight Test Squadron at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment in Bengaluru, he was instrumental in various indigenous upgrade and development programmes, including avionics enhancements for the Jaguar and MiG-27. His tenures at Air Headquarters further saw him championing indigenous fighter programmes, notably the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. While Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, he spearheaded several projects focused on future technologies, all while maintaining a strong emphasis on self-reliance.
Beyond development, Air Marshal Dixit has played a key role in major acquisition programmes. During his time as Director of Air Staff Requirements, he was central to the planning and execution of the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) trials, shaping the future procurement strategy of the IAF.
Leadership Across Command and Tri-Services Roles
Throughout his extensive career, Air Marshal Dixit has held numerous important command and staff assignments. He commanded No. 9 Squadron, overseeing its re-equipment with the Mirage-2000, and subsequently led a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector, as well as a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.
At Air Headquarters, his roles included Principal Director Air Staff Requirement, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff. He also served as Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command and Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command. Before his current role as Vice Chief, he commanded the Central Air Command as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief and served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, where he focused on strengthening jointness and integration across the armed forces.