Chief of Integrated Defence Staff: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has now officially taken over the post of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC). He stepped into this role on Thursday and was welcomed with a formal Tri-Service Guard of Honour at the South Block lawns in Delhi. This moment marked a major milestone in his long and impressive journey in the Indian Air Force.
Before getting this post Air Marshal Dixit worked as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command. During that time, he worked hard to make the Indian Air Force more ready for action and improved teamwork with other forces, especially in the central parts of India and Uttar Bharat. He is known for always trying to make the system work better and making sure different branches of the defence forces stay connected and efficient.
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Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit today assumed charge as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, succeeding Lt Gen JP Mathew. In a ceremony marked by military tradition, he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial and inspected the… pic.twitter.com/b6iqb3tMFK
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) May 1, 2025
Air Marshal Dixit has been in the Air Force since December 6, 1986, when he joined as a fighter pilot. Over the last almost 40 years, he took on many roles including commanding units, working in top-level offices, and training other officers. He studied at top defence institutions like the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College in Bangladesh, and the National Defence College in Delhi. His deep knowledge and sharp flying skills made him a highly respected officer.
According to Freepress Journal, he is both a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot. He has flown over 3,300 hours in more than 20 types of aircraft, such as the Mirage-2000, MiG-21 and Jaguar. Air Marshal Dixit once led a front-line Mirage-2000 Squadron and was in charge when they got new aircraft from France. He led the re-equipment and full preparation of the squadron, bringing those planes to India in two groups.
He also led an important Fighter Training Base in the southern part of India. Under his guidance, the base was chosen as the best in its command. As a test pilot and later the officer in charge of the Flight Test Squadron at ASTE in Bangalore, he played a big part in testing and improving Indian aircraft. He helped with upgrading the avionics of jets like the Jaguar and MiG-27, which helped India grow stronger in defence technology.
At Air Headquarters, he held top positions like Principal Director Air Staff Requirements, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Projects), and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans). As the Director of Air Staff Requirements, he helped plan and carry out the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) trials. These trials were praised for being very professional and fair. He worked closely with many different departments and guided complicated defence buying projects very smoothly.
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When he became the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, he led big changes and helped modernise the Indian Air Force. He made sure the force’s plans matched with India’s goal of becoming self-reliant, especially in the defence sector. During the Emergency Procurement process, his quick actions helped India get homegrown platforms and defence systems faster. He also worked on long-term planning and making sure all branches could work better together.
His hard work didn’t go unnoticed. In 2006, he was given the Vayu Sena Medal for leading the Mirage-2000 Squadron. In 2011, he received the Vishisht Seva Medal for the way he planned and carried out the MMRCA trials. Later, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India to honour his top-level service to the nation.
