Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as new IAF chief

Dixit, who played a key role in Operation Sindoor and is known for his strategic planning, was serving as the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took charge as new IAF chief on Saturday. He succeeded Air Chief Marshal AP Singh who retired from the force after a 43-year-long illustrious career.Ashutosh Dixit has taken charge as new Chief of Air Staff. (X/ANI)Air Chief Marshal Dixit, who played a key role in Operation Sindoor and is known for his strategic planning, was serving as the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force before taking over as its chief.Prior to assuming charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Dixit served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, according to PTI.Also Read | Outgoing and incoming IAF chiefs to receive guard of honour at Delhi's Race Course Station amid eviction rowAir Chief Marshal Dixit has had a career spanning nearly four decades. A fighter pilot and experimental test pilot, he has logged over 3,500 hours of flying on various aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, Jaguar, MiG variants, Tejas, Hawk, Kiran, An-32 and IL-78.He has also been associated with several major military operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, Cope India and Operation Sindoor.An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College, Dixit is also a qualified flying instructor. During the early years of his career, he served as an instructor at the Air Force Test Pilots School before taking command of a fighter squadron.Also Read | Ops Safed Sagar, Sindoor veteran named new Indian Air Force chiefOver the course of his career, Dixit held several important operational and staff positions. He commanded a frontline fighter base in the Western Sector and a fighter training base in the Southern Sector. He also served as air defence commander of Southern Air Command and held senior positions at Air Headquarters, including assistant chief of the air staff (projects), assistant chief of the air staff (plans) and deputy chief of the air staff.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More