New Delhi: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is set to take over as the new head of Indian Air Force's Prayagraj-based Central Air Command from September 1.

Air Marshal Dixit will succeed Air Marshal RGK Kapoor who superannuated today.

Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, Air Marshal Dixit is an Experimental Test Plot and a Qualified Flying Instructor with more than 3,300 hours of flying experience on a variety of aircraft in the IAF inventory.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College (Bangladesh), and National Defence College, Air Marshal Dixit was deeply involved in significant operations and exercises, including Op Safed Sagar during the Kargil War and Op Bakshak.

 As a Commanding Officer, he upgraded a squadron of the Indian Air Force with the advanced Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft. He later commanded both a front-line fighter airbase in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector.

In his role as Air Defence Commander of the Southern Air Command, Dixit also served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Projects) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) at Air Headquarters. As Deputy Chief of Air Staff, he was instrumental in advancing the Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative for the defence forces. 

Under his leadership, several indigenous aircraft projects, including the LCA Mark-1A, Mark-2, and AMCA, made significant progress. 

(With inputs from ANI)