69: Deb Gohain: Aviation Artist

Gp Capt Deb Gohain (Retd)

Deb Gohain is a self taught artist who had served in the Indian Air Force (IAF) for more than 30 years. He took premature retirement from Air Force in 2004 in the rank of Group Captain.

As a veteran he is pursuing his hobby of painting with passion. Being a fighter pilot his interest in Aviation Art was but natural. He beautifully creates on canvas historical events of IAF in war, particularly Indo – Pakistan conflicts of 1965 and 1971.

Deb Gohain’s paintings on Aviation Art are mostly recreation of actual operations that took place in air during wars. His paintings have a real story to tell and each one comes with an appropriate description of the event.

For example his painting titled “Attack on Government House” recreates the audacious attack by four MiG-21s on the official residence of Governor of East Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation war of 1971. This attack was carried out with pin point accuracy and precision while the Governor A. Malik was having a secret meeting with senior Government and Military officials. The shock of the attack was so overpowering that Governor Malik resigned on the spot. For this painting Deb Gohain had consulted the leader of the MiG formation then Wing Commander BK Bishnoi (retired as Air Vice Marshal).

Glimpses (Thumbnails) of some of his paintings are below.

Photo Recce Mission of Fg Offr Utpal Barbara – 1965 Indo-Pak War

Shooting down of Sabres by Flt Lt Alfred Cooke – 1965 Indo – Pak War

Vampires over Chhamb – 1965 Indo – Pak War

Shooting down of Rafiqui by Flt Lt DN Rathore – 1965 Indo – Pak War

Gnat draws First Blood – Shooting down of the first Sabre jet by Sqn Ldr Trevor Keelor -1965 Indo – Pak War

Devayya downs a F-104 – 1965 Indo – Pak War

Tigers over Sargodha – 1965 Indo – Pak War

Tuskers attack Peshawar- 1965 Indo – Pak War

Pingale gets his revenge- 1965 Indo – Pak War

Attack on Government House, Dhaka- 1971 Indo – Pak War

Downing of Starfighter over Saurashra Coast – 1971 Indo – Pak War

First clash of supersonics – Downing of Starfighter over Saurashra Coast – 1971 Indo – Pak War

Search and Strike Mission over East Pakistan- 1971 Indo – Pak War

Dadoo Subaiya engages a Sabre over Dhaka – 1971 Indo – Pak War

Tangail Air Drop- 1971 Indo – Pak War

Longewala Operation – 1971 Indo – Pak War

Teshter Master engages a Sabre- 1971 Indo – Pak War

Tester Master strikes PAF base Shorkot Road by night- 1971 Indo-Pak War

Operation Tiger Hill – Kargil Operations

Dakota through a thunderstorm

Rotary Workhorse – Mi 4

Rotary Workhorse II – Chetak

Hindustan Trainer -2

Su-30 and MiG-21 in formation

Tigers (No.1 Squadron) turns 80

Missing Man Formatio – Book Cover

Winged Arrows in Jet Age

Vijayanta Tank in action – 1965 Indo-Pak War

INS Delhi – Firing a Missile

Rhinos in Action

Eagles and Lightenings

Sukhoi -7s in action – 1971 War

Murid Raid

Strike at Longewala

Bombing of Tezgaon

Hunter

Mighty Gnat

PAF Sabrejet

MiG-21 attack

MiG-21 – Ready for action

Spitfire

F-4 Phantom

Pair Take off – Rafale & SU-30

F-104 Starfighter

March 8, 2021December 27, 2024

66: Q & A Session Part 3: Talk at Technovanza of VJTI

The talk on “Modernisation and Technological advancement in IAF” at the annual Festival (Technovanza) of VJTI was followed by a Q & A session. The talk was for half an hour but the Q & A session went on for one hour. It was interesting to interact with the young college students. The students were very well informed, which was evident from the insightful and precise question asked by them. Overall it was an enjoyable experience.

March 5, 2021December 27, 2024

63: FIFTH GENERATION AIRCRAFT

Categorization of fighter jets in generations is a classification system used around the world. The basic classification into five generations is widely accepted and recognized. Some accounts have subdivided the 4th generation into 4 and 4.5, or 4+ and 4++.

Fifth generation jet fighters (2005 to date)

A fifth generation fighters include major technologies developed during the first part of the 21st century providing them a quantum improvement in their lethality and survivability. The characteristics of fifth-generation fighters are not universally agreed but as on date these are the most advanced fighters in operation.

The technologies that best epitomize fifth generation fighters are advanced integrated avionics systems that provide the pilot with a complete picture of the battle space and the use of low observable “stealth” techniques. They typically include agile airframes with super cruise performance, advanced avionics features, and highly integrated computer systems capable of networking with other elements within the battle space for situation awareness and C³ (command, control and communications) capabilities.

Improved situational awareness is achieved through multi-spectral sensors located across all aspects of the airframe which allows the pilot to ‘look’ through the airframe of the aircraft without having to manoeuvre the ﬁghter to obtain a 360 degree picture.

These aircraft also have capability of operating in networked environment which allows them to receive, share and store information to enhance the battle space picture. Fifth generation ﬁghter capabilities are largely deﬁned by their software and it will be the ongoing development of their software that will ensure they maintain their edge against evolving threats.

Ffth generation aircraft allows the pilot to maintain decision superiority over an adversary. This provides greater chances of survivability, which when combined with eﬀective lethality, assures battle space dominance.