INDIA’S new Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit on Sunday said restoring the Indian Air Force’s sanctioned fighter squadron strength, accelerating indigenous programmes like the Tejas and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), and strengthening tri-services synergy will be his top priorities.

 

A day after assuming charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, he outlined his core focus areas under the acronymVAYU, defining his vision as Vigilance and operational readiness, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), Yukti (tactical innovation), and Unity of effort across the tri-services. Highlighting his priority on self-reliance, Dixit, an accomplished fighter pilot with over 3,500 flying hours, said the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk IA) and LCA Mk 2 as well as the AMCA programmes will be his “highest priority”.