Air Chief Marshal AP Singh Retires After 42-Year Career; Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit to Take Charge

Career Overview and Background

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh has completed a distinguished military career spanning over four decades, officially stepping down from his role as the head of the Indian Air Force. Commissioned into the fighter stream in December 1984 after graduating from the National Defence Academy, his tenure encompassed various operational and administrative roles.

• Flight Experience: Over 5,000 hours of flying time across multiple fighter and transport aircraft.
• Key Roles: Served as an experimental test pilot, led the MiG-29 Upgrade Project Management Team in Moscow, and acted as Project Director (Flight Test) for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
• Command Positions: Headed a front-line air base, served as Air Defence Commander in the South Western Air Command, Senior Air Staff Officer in the Eastern Air Command, and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Air Command before serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

Contributions to Indigenous Defence and Operations

During his tenure, the outgoing Air Chief emphasized indigenous defense production and self-reliance, maintaining a close association with the Tejas fighter aircraft development program.

• Operation Sindoor: Following developments in May 2025, the Indian Air Force participated in joint military operations under Operation Sindoor. Public briefings highlighted the coordination among the armed forces and the utilization of indigenous technology.
• Final Flight: Marking the conclusion of his active flying career, he undertook a final sortie in an HJT-16 Kiran Mk-I trainer aircraft alongside his initial flying instructor, and previously flew the Tejas during exercises.

Leadership Transition

With the conclusion of this tenure, official announcements confirm that Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit will assume responsibilities as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff. Air Marshal Dixit brings extensive experience as an experimental test pilot and qualified flying instructor, with over 3,500 hours of flight time across platforms including the Mirage-2000, MiG series, Jaguar, and Tejas.

Verification and Official Sources

Citizens and researchers seeking further verification of these appointments and official defence announcements can consult communiques released by the Ministry of Defence and official portals of the Indian Air Force.