India, June 5 -- Ace fighter pilot and test pilot Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and will assume charge on July 1. He is currently serving as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

Air Marshal Dixit has played a key role in strengthening jointness among the armed forces as India moves towards greater integration and theatre-based command structures. He has also been actively involved in promoting indigenous fighter aircraft projects and supporting modernisation initiatives within the Air Force.

Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 6, 1986, he is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy...