Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, a distinguished fighter and test pilot, has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff and will take up the position on July 1. Currently serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, he has significantly contributed to enhancing jointness across defence forces during the transition towards Theatreisation.
Air Marshal Dixit has played an important role in promoting indigenous fighter projects within the Indian Air Force throughout various assignments at Air Headquarters. He has also been instrumental in the modernisation of the force.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, he is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; Defence Services Staff College, Bangladesh; and National Defence College, New Delhi.
A Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot, the Air Marshal has logged over 3,300 hours of flying experience on more than 20 types of aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG-21 and Jaguar.
He commanded a premier Fighter Training Base in the Southern Sector, leading it to be adjudged the best in the Command during his tenure.
As a test pilot and later Commanding Officer of the Flight Test Squadron at Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, Bengaluru, he was involved in several indigenous upgrades and development programmes, including avionics upgrades for the Jaguar and MiG-27. In his role as Director of Air Staff Requirements, he was pivotal in the planning and execution of Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft trials.