Rajeev Sharma :- Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, a distinguished fighter pilot, test pilot and senior officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He is scheduled to assume office on July 1, bringing with him nearly four decades of operational, command and technical experience.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dixit is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has established himself as one of the Air Force’s most accomplished aviators and strategic planners.
A qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, Air Marshal Dixit has logged more than 3,300 flying hours on over 20 different aircraft types, including frontline fighter platforms such as the Mirage-2000, MiG-21 and Jaguar. He has also commanded a key fighter training base in the southern sector, which earned recognition as the best base in its command during his tenure.
His career includes a significant stint at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bengaluru, where he served as a test pilot and contributed to several critical flight evaluation programmes. As Commanding Officer of a Flight Test Squadron, he played a pivotal role in indigenous avionics upgrade projects for the Jaguar and MiG-27 fleets, strengthening the operational capabilities of the IAF.
Air Marshal Dixit also served as Director of Air Staff Requirements, where he was closely involved in planning and overseeing trials for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme. His expertise in aircraft evaluation and procurement processes was instrumental in ensuring the successful execution of one of the IAF’s most extensive fighter aircraft assessment exercises.
Earlier in his career, he led a Mirage-2000 squadron with distinction, overseeing the induction and ferrying of 10 newly acquired aircraft from France. He also contributed to the enhancement of the Mirage Mission Preparation System, which was subsequently employed in major exercises and operational missions.
Recognised for his professional excellence and leadership, Air Marshal Dixit was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal for his contributions to operational preparedness and indigenous modernisation projects. As Director of the MMRCA programme, he was credited with conducting complex field evaluations of six foreign fighter aircraft in a transparent and time-bound manner, significantly contributing to the IAF’s long-term capability development plans.
His appointment as Vice Chief of the Air Staff comes at a crucial time as the Indian Air Force continues its modernisation drive and focuses on enhancing operational readiness amid evolving security challenges.
