India, July 1 -- Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Wednesday assumed charge as the 51st Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired after nearly four decades of distinguished service in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Before taking over the new role, Air Marshal Dixit served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC), where he played a key role in strengthening tri-service integration and advancing India's joint military capabilities.

A highly decorated officer, Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in December 1986. A qualified flying instructor and experimental test pilot, he has logged over 3,300 flying hours on more than 20 aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, MiG...