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New Delhi: Air Chief-designate Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit calls on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 7, a day after the government appoints him as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff. Dixit, currently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, is set to take charge as Air Chief Marshal on the afternoon of October 31, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
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The meeting comes as the Indian Air Force prepares for a leadership transition amid a major phase of capability modernisation. Dixit brings nearly four decades of service experience, more than 3,500 flying hours and experience as an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor. He has flown platforms including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Hawk and Tejas.
Dixit has also held key operational and strategic appointments, including Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command, and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee. He has commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector and a fighter training base in the Southern Sector, while his operational experience includes Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak and Operation Sindoor.
His tenure comes at a critical point for the IAF, which is seeking to strengthen its fighter fleet while accelerating indigenous aerospace programmes. The service has two orders covering 180 Tejas Mk-1A aircraft, while delays in the programme remain a major concern. IAF Chief-designate Dixit has previously been associated with indigenous aircraft and capability development, including the Tejas programme.
The leadership transition also comes as the IAF expands its focus on unmanned systems, emerging technologies, multi-domain operations and greater indigenous capability. Dixit’s background in operational flying, test aviation, capability planning and jointness is expected to shape his approach as he takes charge of the force at the end of October.
Dixit has received the Vayu Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal during his career. His appointment and subsequent meeting with the Defence Minister mark the beginning of the transition ahead of his formal assumption of command on October 31.
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