New Delhi, October 6 (Daily Kiran) : Air Marshal Ashutosh Dikshit has been appointed as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force, a position he will assume on October 31, 2026. The decision was approved by the central government on Tuesday. Currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Dikshit played a significant role in Operation Sindhur.
He will be the 29th Chief of the Indian Air Force, taking over from the incumbent Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, who is set to retire on the same day. Air Marshal Dikshit has had a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades, participating in various operations and exercises, including Operation Safed Sagar, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Sindhur.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dikshit has extensive flying experience, logging over 3,500 hours. He has operated a variety of aircraft, including Mirage-2000, MiG variants, HPT-32, AN-32, Avro, Kiran, Jaguar, IL-78, Hawk, and Tejas. His qualifications include being an experimental test pilot and a qualified flying instructor.
Before his current role, Air Marshal Dikshit held several key operational and strategic responsibilities, including serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command. His career highlights also include commanding frontline fighter bases and leading significant training operations in both the western and southern regions of India.
Throughout his career, Air Marshal Dikshit has received numerous military honors for his exceptional service, including the Air Force Medal in 2006, the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2011, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023, and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026. His leadership as the Chief of the Indian Air Force is anticipated to usher in a new phase for the service, marked by his extensive operational, flight, training, and strategic experience.
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