Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit took charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force on October 31.

He succeeds Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, who retired on October 31 after 42 years of service.

Dixit formally began his tenure on November 1 by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.

A Guard of Honour followed at Air Force Station New Delhi. He arrived at the parade ground in an electric vehicle.

After taking over, he saluted his mother, Nirmala Dixit, and his mother-in-law, Kamla Pandey.

"I am deeply honoured to assume command of the Indian Air Force as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff," he said.

Dixit was Vice Chief of the Air Staff before this. He credited Singh's leadership for the Air Force's showing in Operation Sindoor.

He set out his priorities as VAYU: V for vigilance, victory and readiness, A for Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), Y for Yukti (ingenuity) and U for unity of effort.

Speaking to reporters on November 1, he said restoring the sanctioned strength of the fighter fleet would be his foremost task.

He tied that goal to home-built programmes such as the LCA Tejas light combat aircraft and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft.

He said the force would stay vigilant, keep changing and be ready to respond whenever the nation calls.

Read the full article for more on the handover and the new chief's plans.