From Op Safed Sagar to Sindoor: New IAF chief Ashutosh Dixit's 4-decade-long decorated career

Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took charge as the new IAF chief on Saturday, October 31. He succeeded Air Chief Marshal AP Singh who retired from the force after a 42-year-long illustrious career.Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took over command of the Indian Air Force as its 29th chief. (X/@IAF_MCC)“Over a career spanning four decades, the Air Chief has rich experience across diverse domains such as operations, flight testing, capability development and joint staff assignments,” the IAF said in a statement.National Defence Academy alumnusBorn on December 9, 1966, Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the Indian Air Force's fighter stream on December 6, 1986.He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College. An accomplished pilot, he has logged over 3,500 hours of flying experience across 20 aircraft types, including the Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Tejas, Hawk, Kiran, An-32 and IL-78.ALSO READ | Outgoing and incoming IAF chiefs to receive guard of honour at Delhi's Race Course Station amid eviction rowA qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, Dixit began his career as an instructor at the Air Force Test Pilots School. He then took command of a fighter squadron in December 2003 that was being re-equipped with Mirage-2000 aircraft.He oversaw the transition and ensured that the squadron commenced full-scale flying operations soon after the aircraft's arrival. He also led the acceptance flights and ferrying of 10 newly acquired Mirage-2000 aircraft from France to India.Held key command and staff positionsDixit has commanded a frontline fighter airbase in the western sector and a fighter training base in the southern sector. He also served as a Directing Staff at the Air Force Test Pilots School and as Principal Director of Air Staff Requirements at Air Headquarters.ALSO READ | Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia named next IAF vice chiefOver the course of his career, he held several key appointments, including Air Defence Commander of the Southern Air Command, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) at Air Headquarters, Senior Air Staff Officer at the South Western Air Command and Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters.He later served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command before taking over as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), a position he held during Operation Sindoor. He then assumed the charge of Vice Chief of the Air Staff, on July 1, 2026.Participated in operations Safed Sagar, SindoorDixit has been involved in several military operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War, Cope India exercise with the US airforce and Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir. He served as the Chief of Integrated Staff to the CISC during Operation Sindoor.In recognition of his distinguished service, Dixit has received several honours, including the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.WATCH | Amar Preet Singh pays tribute to fallen soldiers before IAF Command handoverThe IAF Chief has played a key role in the modernisation of the Indian Air Force, contributing to the finalisation of the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade projects. He was also involved in completing the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC) processes for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk-I, PTI reported.(with inputs from PTI/ANI)