From Kargil War To Op Sindoor: 3 Major Operations Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Was Part Of

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, designated as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, is set to assume office on October 31, 2026. Prior to this, he has been serving as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff for nearly four decades. During his tenure, Dixit has been involved in several major military operations. The first operation he participated in was Operation Safed Sagar, conducted during the 1999 Kargil War alongside the Indian Army's Operation Vijay.

This campaign aimed to reclaim positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control that had been occupied by Pakistani forces. Air Marshal Dixit played a significant role in this operation, executing air strikes and providing close air support in critical sectors such as Dras, Kargil, Batalik, and Mushkoh. Operating under challenging conditions, pilots had to carry out missions at high altitudes in mountainous terrain.

The operation required precision and expertise, employing a range of aircraft including the MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, and Mi-17. The Mirage-2000, in particular, was crucial for precision attacks, including missions with laser-guided bombs. Following Operation Safed Sagar, Dixit was involved in Operation Rakshak, which is a continuous counter-insurgency and counter-militancy operation in Jammu and Kashmir.

This operation has evolved over the years to include various security missions, such as area domination, search operations, counter-terrorism actions, and protecting civilians and strategic installations. The Rashtriya Rifles, raised to enhance counter-insurgency capabilities, have become a key component in such operations. Operation Sindoor, the most recent major operation Dixit was part of, took place on May 7, 2025, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

The Indian Armed Forces launched strikes on nine identified terrorist infrastructure locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as announced by the Ministry of Defence. Operation Sindoor involved a coordinated effort by all three branches of the Indian military, with the Indian Air Force conducting precision strikes and air-defense operations, the Indian Army undertaking land-based responses, and the Indian Navy maintaining a robust maritime presence and surveillance in the Arabian Sea.