Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is the next Chief of Air Staff
The Indian government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, effective October 31, 2026. A highly experienced fighter pilot, he will succeed Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
Why it matters
This appointment is a significant leadership transition for the Indian Air Force, impacting national defense strategy.
The Government has appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Air Staff.
He will assume charge in the rank of Air Chief Marshal from the afternoon of October 31, 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retires on the same day.
According to Ministry of Defence, Air Marshal Dixit will be the 29th Chief of the Air Staff. A fighter pilot with nearly four decades of service, he has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience on a range of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk and Tejas.
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