Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Takes Over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit PVSM AVSM VM VSM took over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on 1 July 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor SYSM PVSM AVSM VM, who superannuated a day earlier after four decades in uniform.

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit's Path Through the Cockpit

Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986, he has logged more than 3,500 hours on aircraft as varied as the Mirage 2000, MiG variants, the HPT 32, An 32, Avro, Kiran, Jaguar, IL 78, Hawk and Tejas. He trained at the National Defence Academy, the Defence Staff Service College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College.

Test Pilot and Instructor Credentials

He carries the designations of Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor. His operational record spans Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, Exercise Cope India and Operation Sindoor.

Command Postings on the Way Up

As Commanding Officer he re-equipped No. 9 Squadron with the Mirage 2000, then commanded a frontline fighter base in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector. He later served as Directing Staff at the Air Force Test Pilots School and as Principal Director Air Staff Requirement at Air Headquarters.

From Southern Command to South Block

He held the post of Air Defence Commander, Southern Air Command, and moved through Air Headquarters as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff for Projects and then for Plans. He was Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff before two final postings ahead of this one, first as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Central Air Command and then as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

In that tri service role he pushed jointness and integration initiatives, with multiple joint doctrines and orders released during his tenure.

Decorations Through 2026

The honours recognising Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit's four decades of service run from the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006 through the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 to the Param Vishisht Seva Medal this year.