Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes over as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, his four-decade career, and his VAYU priorities for the IAF.
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, and has set out his priorities for the Indian Air Force under the acronym VAYU.
The handover
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who superannuated after 42 years of distinguished service, according to the official Press Information Bureau release. Dixit received a ceremonial guard of honour at the parade ground of the Air Force Station before formally assuming command of the force.
Before his elevation, Dixit served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff. On 1 November, he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi and then outlined his priorities for the force.
A four-decade career
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Dixit was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986. He is a fighter pilot with over 3,500 hours of flying experience across 20 aircraft types, and is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot.
His aircraft experience includes the Mirage-2000, various MiG variants, the Jaguar and several transport aircraft. He was instrumental in finalising the Jaguar and MiG-27 upgrade projects and in the completion of the initial and final operational clearance activities of the LCA Mk-I Tejas.
His command assignments include a Mirage-2000 squadron, a Forward Base Support Unit in the Western Sector and Air Force Station Bidar, a fighter training base. He has served as Air Defence Commander at Southern Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, commanded Central Air Command, and served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee during Operation Sindoor.
He is a recipient of the Vayu Sena Medal, the Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.
The VAYU agenda
Under the VAYU framework, V stands for vigilance and readiness, with every squadron, radar, air defence unit and Air Warrior expected to be prepared to respond at a moment's notice, and restoring the IAF's combat strength to its sanctioned level among his foremost priorities. A stands for aatmanirbharta, with the indigenous Tejas Mk1A and Mk2, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Indian sensors and weapons identified as key priorities, and a focus on fighting with Indian solutions.
Y represents yukti, or ingenuity, covering innovation in doctrine, procedures and technology, including networked and AI-enabled command and control systems, layered counter-drone defence and the use of near-space as an operational domain. U stands for unity of effort, emphasising joint planning and operations with the Army, Navy and national agencies from the initial planning stage.
Dixit also acknowledged his predecessor's leadership during Operation Sindoor, under which he said the Air Force had demonstrated what precise and decisive air power could achieve, and thanked him for handing over a force in a high state of operational readiness.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the new Chief of the Air Staff?
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, previously the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 31 October 2026.
What is the VAYU framework?
VAYU stands for vigilance and readiness, aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), yukti (ingenuity) and unity of effort. Its priorities include restoring sanctioned combat strength, indigenous Tejas and AMCA aircraft, and joint planning with the Army and Navy.
Who did Air Chief Marshal Dixit succeed?
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who superannuated after 42 years of service according to the official release, and under whose leadership the IAF operated during Operation Sindoor.