The IAF Chief VAYU vision, set out by Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Sunday, puts one task ahead of the rest. Restoring the Indian Air Force's combat strength towards its sanctioned level will be his foremost job, the new chief said.

Air Chief Marshal Dixit took charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on Saturday, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. His first public remarks came a day later and were built around a single word. VAYU, the Hindi word for air, stands for Vigilance and readiness, Aatmanirbharta, Yukti and Unity of effort.

"Our security environment remains demanding. In addition, the character of war is being reshaped by new technologies and systems like drones, long-range precision weapons, space, cyber, AI and the electromagnetic spectrum," he said.

"The Air Force, while transforming into the force that India will need in the next decade, must always be ready to fight and win," he added.

IAF Chief VAYU vision asks every squadron to stay ready

V stands for vigilance and readiness. The chief said every squadron, every radar and every air defence unit, along with each air warrior, must be ready to respond at a moment's notice.

Combat strength comes under the same heading. The IAF is sanctioned 42 fighter squadrons and fields around 29 at present, according to widely cited figures. Bringing that number back up towards the sanctioned level is the task the chief placed first on his list.

The requirement is well known. At his annual press conference on 3 October, ahead of the 94th Air Force Day, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh said the force needs 36 to 40 new aircraft every year.

Indian sensors, platforms and weapons get top priority

A is for Aatmanirbharta, or self-reliance. Indian sensors, platforms and weapons come first, with the Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk II and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) reported among his priorities.

"We will fight with Indian solutions, and we will hold them in numbers and that must sustain operations demands. Our responsibility is to fight and win, but most importantly it is to deter conflict through credible air power," he said.

Counter-drone defence and near-space named under Yukti

Y stands for Yukti, which the chief described as ingenuity. Under it come innovation in doctrine, in procedures and in technology. He listed networked, AI-enabled command and control, layered counter-drone defence, responsive maintenance, and force protection and resilience. Near-space, used as an operational domain for the Air Force, was also on the list. All of these areas, he said, will be constantly monitored and progressed.

Air power must be integrated from the first plan, chief says

U is for Unity of effort. The chief linked it to JAI, the framework of Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation that the armed forces follow.

"In step with the vision of JAI, we will plan and fight as one along with our Army, our Navy and our national agencies. Air power delivers most when it is integrated from the very first plan," he said.

Joint work is familiar ground for him. Before taking over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 July, as reported at the time, Air Chief Marshal Dixit served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC). He held that post during Operation Sindoor in 2025. He credited Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh with showing in that operation what precise and decisive air power can do, and with handing over a force in a high state of readiness.

Air warriors, veterans and Veer Naris to get personal attention

Air Warriors, Agniveervayu, civilians, veterans, Veer Naris and their families sit under all four pillars. Their training, morale, welfare and dignity will have his personal attention, he said.

"To the fellow citizens of my motherland, please trust that your Air Force is vigilant, ready and resolute," Air Chief Marshal Dixit said. "Our commitment is clear: to remain ready, to keep transforming and to deliver whenever the nation calls."

Tribute at National War Memorial opens new tenure

The new chief began his tenure at the National War Memorial, where he paid tribute to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. A ceremonial Guard of Honour at Air Force Station New Delhi followed. He arrived at the station's parade ground in an electric vehicle.

In his first message to the force, he paid homage to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty. "Their valour is our inspiration and their legacy is our sacred trust," he wrote. He pledged to lead the IAF with honour, purpose and conviction, and to stay true to the Indian Air Force motto, Nabhah Sprisham Deeptam.

Test pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours

Air Chief Marshal Dixit is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor with more than 3,500 hours of flying. He was commissioned into the fighter stream on 6 December 1986.

His senior appointments include Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Central Air Command, CISC at HQ IDS and Vice Chief of the Air Staff. The President approved his appointment as the next chief in October, and the Ministry of Defence announced it on 6 October. He takes over from Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who flew a farewell sortie in a Tejas before he superannuated on Saturday.