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 service in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Prior to his appointment, Air Marshal Dixit served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) from May 1, 2025, where he played a key role in strengthening tri-service integration and advancing India’s joint military capabilities.
Announcing his departure from the post, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said in a post on X, “Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, #CISC, relinquished the appointment today after a distinguished tenure marked by transformational leadership and an unwavering commitment to #TriServices integration.”
The HQ IDS said his tenure was marked by several key initiatives, including his role in Operation Sindoor, the release of 20 joint doctrines and primers to institutionalise tri-service thinking, the conceptualisation of RanSamwad 2025 and 2026, the conduct of the Combined and Joint Commanders’ Conferences in 2025 and 2026, and the formulation of the Defence Forces Vision 2047 roadmap aimed at building a technology-driven and integrated military.
“HQ_IDS / Chief of Defence Staff conveys its profound appreciation for his outstanding service to the Nation. His enduring contributions towards fostering #TriServices cooperation and #CapabilityDevelopment will continue to inspire future generations of the #IndianArmedForces,” the post added.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, the Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
A Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, he has logged over 3,300 flying hours on more than 20 aircraft types, including the Mirage-2000, MiG-21 and Jaguar.
During his career, he has held several operational, command and staff appointments, including commanding a Mirage-2000 squadron, a frontline fighter base in the Western Sector, and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.
As Commanding Officer of the Flight Test Squadron at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment in Bengaluru, he contributed to several indigenous aircraft upgrade programmes, including avionics upgrades for the Jaguar and MiG-27.
He later served as Director of Air Staff Requirements, where he played a significant role in planning and conducting the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft trials. At Air Headquarters, he held key appointments as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans), Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, and subsequently served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command.
Air Marshal Dixit also participated in Operation Safed Sagar during the 1999 Kargil War and Operation Rakshak, the long-running counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism campaign in Jammu and Kashmir.
In recognition of his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India.
(With ANI inputs)
