Who is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit? India's Next Vice Chief of Air Staff

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, an accomplished fighter pilot, experimental test pilot, and strategic leader, has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. He will assume charge on 1 July 2026.

Currently serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) since 1 May 2025, Air Marshal Dixit brings nearly four decades of distinguished service, deep operational expertise, and proven leadership in force modernisation, indigenous capability development, and tri-service integration. His appointment underscores the Indian Air Force’s emphasis on operational excellence, technological self-reliance, and seamless joint operations amid evolving multi-domain warfare challenges.

Early Life, Education and Commissioning

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986 from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. A graduate of the Staff Course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College, New Delhi, he has combined rigorous professional military education with hands-on flying and leadership experience from the outset of his career.

Distinguished Flying Career and Operational Experience

A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) and Experimental Test Pilot, Air Marshal Dixit has accumulated over 3,300 hours of flying experience across more than 20 types of aircraft. These include the Mirage-2000, MiG-21, Jaguar, Hawk, IL-78, Kiran, HPT-32, AN-32, Avro, and various trainer and transport platforms.

He commanded No. 9 Squadron during its re-equipment with the Mirage-2000, overseeing critical ferry operations from France and contributing significantly to mission planning. He participated in major operations, including Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil conflict, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Vijay.

As a test pilot and later Commanding Officer of the Flight Test Squadron at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bengaluru, he played a pivotal role in indigenous upgrade programmes, notably the avionics upgrades for the Jaguar and MiG-27 aircraft. His technical acumen and flight test expertise have directly supported the Indian Air Force’s drive for self-reliance in aviation systems.

Command and Leadership Appointments

Air Marshal Dixit has held several prestigious command appointments:

• Commanded a premier fighter training base (Air Force Station Bidar), where his leadership resulted in the base being adjudged the best in the command.
• Commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western sector.
• Served as Air Defence Commander, Southern Air Command.
• Appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command (1 September 2024 – 30 April 2025).

In these roles, he demonstrated exceptional operational acumen and the ability to lead large, complex formations with precision and foresight.

Key Staff and Strategic Roles at Air Headquarters

At Air Headquarters, New Delhi, he served in critical planning and policy positions:

• Principal Director, Air Staff Requirements — where he played a key role in the planning and conduct of the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) trials.
• Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Projects).
• Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans).
• Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (15 May 2023 – 31 August 2024).

In these capacities, he contributed significantly to long-term force structuring, capability development, and the acceleration of indigenous fighter and systems programmes.

Tri-Service Leadership as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff

On 1 May 2025, Air Marshal Dixit assumed the appointment of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, succeeding Lieutenant General Johnson P. Mathew. In this tri-service role, he has been instrumental in advancing jointness, integration, and the ongoing transition towards theaterisation and multi-domain operations. He has consistently emphasised that modern conflicts begin well before the first kinetic shot — through cyber, space, information, and economic domains — and has advocated for unmanned systems evolving from mere enablers to independent means of warfare.

Awards and Decorations

Air Marshal Dixit has been decorated with several prestigious awards in recognition of his exemplary service:

• Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM)
• Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) — 2023
• Vayu Sena Medal (VM) — 2006 (for devotion to duty while commanding No. 9 Squadron)
• Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) — 2011

He has also received numerous campaign and service medals, including the Operation Vijay Star, Operation Vijay Medal, Operation Parakram Medal, Sainya Seva Medal, High Altitude Medal, and Videsh Seva Medal, along with long-service and commemorative medals.

Significance of the Appointment as Vice Chief of the Air Staff

As Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Dixit will serve as the principal deputy to the Chief of the Air Staff, overseeing critical functions including operations, planning, acquisitions, maintenance, and training. His unique combination of frontline fighter and test pilot experience, deep involvement in indigenous modernisation programmes, command of operational formations, and tri-service strategic perspective positions him ideally to guide the Indian Air Force through its next phase of transformation.

His tenure as CISC has already reinforced the importance of integrated, multi-domain capabilities — an area of growing priority as the armed forces move towards greater jointness and theaterisation. His leadership will be particularly valuable in balancing manned-unmanned teaming, accelerating Atmanirbhar initiatives in aerospace, and strengthening the IAF’s operational readiness along both northern and western borders.

A Legacy of Excellence and Forward-Looking Leadership

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit’s career exemplifies the highest traditions of the Indian Air Force: courage in the cockpit, technical mastery as a test pilot, visionary planning at the highest levels of Air Headquarters, and strategic stewardship in tri-service appointments. From commanding a Mirage-2000 squadron in the early 2000s to shaping India’s integrated defence posture in 2025–26, he has consistently delivered results with quiet professionalism and strategic clarity.

As he prepares to assume the responsibilities of Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 July 2026, the Indian Air Force gains a leader whose experience spans the full spectrum of air power — from the flight line and test ranges to the corridors of strategic planning and joint operations. His appointment reinforces the service’s commitment to operational excellence, technological self-reliance, and integrated defence capabilities in an increasingly complex security environment.