Ashutosh Dixit Becomes 29th Chief of the Indian Air Force

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed office as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on October 31, 2026. He succeeds Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who retired after a 25-month tenure following a final ceremonial guard of honour.

Dixit is a fighter and test pilot commissioned in 1986 with over 3,500 flying hours. His previous experience includes serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, Air Defence Commander of the Southern Air Command, and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff. He is recognized for supporting indigenous platforms like the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas and is expected to advance the government's Aatmanirbharta initiative for defence self-reliance.

Concurrent with this transition, the Ministry of Defence of India announced the appointment of Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Walia, currently the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command, is scheduled to assume his role on November 1, succeeding Dixit. A fighter stream veteran commissioned in 1988, Walia has served as a defence attaché in Japan and South Korea and qualified on the Su-30MKI and Jaguar aircraft.