Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 1: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who played a key role as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff during Operation Sindoor, assumed charge as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on Wednesday.
He succeeded Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired on June 30 after completing four decades of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Air Marshal Dixit was accorded a guard of honour at Vayu Bhawan, the headquarters of the IAF, after taking charge. Before the ceremony, he visited the National War Memorial and laid a wreath to pay tribute to the armed forces personnel who made the supreme sacrifice.
Prior to his new appointment, Air Marshal Dixit served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. He assumed the post on May 1, 2025, and held the position until June 30.
During his tenure as CISC, he contributed to strengthening jointness among the three armed forces, including playing a significant role in Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025.
The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff highlighted his contributions, including the release of 20 joint doctrines and primers, development of military dialogue platforms, coordination of combined commanders’ conferences, and work towards the Defence Forces Vision 2047 aimed at creating a technology-driven and integrated military structure.
The armed forces’ coordination during Operation Sindoor, which continued for nearly 88 hours from May 7, 2025, was widely noted as a major example of joint operations capability.
Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in December 1986. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Defence Services Staff College, Bangladesh, and the National Defence College, New Delhi.
A qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, he has more than 3,300 hours of flying experience on over 20 aircraft types, including Mirage-2000, MiG-21 and Jaguar.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh is expected to take over as the next Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.