Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit appointed next Vice Chief of Air Staff

New Delhi, June 6. Ace fighter pilot and veteran test aviator Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) and is set to assume office on July 1.

Currently serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Air Marshal Dixit has been closely involved in advancing jointness among the armed forces and supporting efforts towards the creation of integrated theatre commands.

Over the course of his career, he has played a significant role in driving the Indian Air Force’s modernisation agenda and promoting indigenous fighter aircraft programmes through various assignments at Air Headquarters.

Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force 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 in New Delhi.

A Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, he has logged more than 3,300 flying hours on over 20 aircraft types, including the Mirage-2000, MiG-21 and Jaguar fighter jets.

During his distinguished service, he commanded a premier fighter training base in southern India, which earned recognition as the best base in its command under his leadership.

As a test pilot and later Commanding Officer of the Flight Test Squadron at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bengaluru, he contributed to several indigenous aircraft development and upgrade programmes, including avionics modernisation projects for the Jaguar and MiG-27 fleets.

Air Marshal Dixit also served as Director of Air Staff Requirements, where he played a pivotal role in planning and conducting trials for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme, one of the Indian Air Force’s most significant fighter acquisition initiatives.