New Delhi, 01 July (H.S.): Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Wednesday assumed charge as the 51st Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired on June 30 after nearly four decades of distinguished service in the Indian Air Force (IAF). His appointment comes at a crucial time as the IAF continues to advance its modernisation and capability enhancement programmes.

Air Marshal Dixit had earlier served as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from May 15, 2023, succeeding Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari. A qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, he has extensive flying experience on a wide range of aircraft, including the MiG-21, MiG-29 and Mirage 2000. During his career spanning more than three decades in the IAF, he has accumulated over 3,300 flying hours on more than 20 types of aircraft. He also participated in Operation Safed Sagar and Operation Rakshak.

Throughout his career, Air Marshal Dixit has led several projects focused on adopting future technologies and has played a key role in ensuring the Indian Air Force's modernisation while maintaining a strong emphasis on self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. During his tenure as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, significant progress was achieved in indigenous aircraft programmes, including the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A, LCA Mk-2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Before assuming his present appointment, Air Marshal Dixit served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC), a position he took over on May 1, 2025. In that role, he played a significant part in strengthening jointness among the three armed services and advancing India's integrated military capabilities.

Earlier, he served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command, relinquishing command on April 30, 2025. On May 1, 2025, he succeeded Lieutenant General Johnson P. Mathew as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff following the latter's retirement. He has also served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at the South Western Air Command.

Air Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Pune, and the Air Force Academy, Dundigal. He is also a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. During his distinguished career in operational flying, flight testing, force modernisation and strategic leadership, he has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, and the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011.

Air Marshal Dixit has commanded a frontline Mirage 2000 fighter squadron in the western sector, which also serves as one of the Indian Air Force's premier fighter training bases.

He has previously held several key appointments at Air Headquarters, including Principal Director Air Staff Requirements, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans). As Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he will oversee the Indian Air Force's modernisation programmes, including new acquisitions and procurements undertaken under emergency powers, while continuing to advance the service's capability enhancement and self-reliance initiatives.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar