New Delhi

Air Chief-designate Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Wednesday called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh following his appointment as the next Chief of the Air Staff. 

Singh congratulated him on his appointment and extended his best wishes.

The government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of October 31.

The present Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, will superannuate from service on October 31, following which Air Marshal Dixit will take charge as the head of the Indian Air Force.

Widely known for his role in promoting indigenous LCA Tejas and other indigenous aircraft projects in the force, Air Marshal Dixit is expected to further strengthen the government's Aatmanirbharta initiative in the defence sector.

Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Staff Service College in Bangladesh and the National Defence College. He has more than 3,500 hours of flying experience.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Air Marshal has held several significant field and staff appointments during his career.

As Commanding Officer, he re-equipped No. 9 Squadron with Mirage-2000 aircraft and later commanded a frontline fighter air base in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.

The Air Officer subsequently served as Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command and held the appointments of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan).

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The Air Officer subsequently served as Air Defence Commander of Southern Air Command and held the appointments of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan).In recognition of his exemplary and distinguished service to the nation, Air Marshal Dixit has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, and Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026.