Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit today assumed charge as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) at the Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff in New Delhi. He succeeds Lt Gen JP Mathew, who superannuated on April 30.
Before formally taking over, Air Marshal Dixit paid homage to fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. He also inspected a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns.
Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dixit has served the nation for nearly four decades. He has held a wide range of command, staff, and instructional appointments. For his distinguished service, he has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), and Vayu Sena Medal (VM).
Prior to this appointment, he was serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, where he worked to enhance operational preparedness and foster coordination among the armed forces in the Northern and Central regions.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla), Defence Services Staff College (Bangladesh), and National Defence College (New Delhi), Air Marshal Dixit is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot. He has logged over 3,300 hours of flying across more than 20 aircraft types, including Mirage-2000, MiG-21, and Jaguar.
He has previously commanded a key Fighter Training Base in the southern sector, which was adjudged the best in its Command during his tenure. As a test pilot and later as the Commanding Officer of the Flight Test Squadron at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE), Bangalore, he played a significant role in indigenous upgrade programs, including avionics enhancements for Jaguar and MiG-27 aircraft.
During his stint as Director of Air Staff Requirements, he was instrumental in planning and conducting the trials for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), a crucial step in modernizing the IAF’s combat capabilities.
As the new CISC, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is expected to further strengthen jointness among the three services and contribute to shaping India’s integrated defence strategy.(PR)