The Government of India announced on 6 June 2026 the appointment of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, with the appointment taking effect from 1 July 2026. He will succeed Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor who demits office on superannuation. At the time of the announcement Air Marshal Dixit was serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, a tri service position he has held since 1 May 2025.

Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986 and brings nearly four decades of distinguished service. He has over 3300 flying hours on more than 20 aircraft types and is a qualified Experimental Test Pilot and Fighter Combat Leader. During his career he has commanded a frontline Sukhoi 30 MKI squadron, an Air Force base and a regional command. He has also been closely associated with the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft programme and other Atmanirbhar Bharat fighter upgrade initiatives.

As Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Dixit will be second only to the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and will oversee operations training and modernisation at a crucial juncture when the IAF is intensifying theatre command integration acquisition of Rafale Marine fighters for the Navy delivery of Tejas Mk1A and Mk2 jets and preparation for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme amid heightened regional tensions following Operation Sindoor and ongoing Pakistan and China border deployments.