i wont mind ranking arjunk but when Indian army itself prefers T-90 over Arjun and ranks modernized T-72 above arjun so then it actually does not have any chance in top-10 or top-12.
ok at long last I think we can start discussing Arjun. the poor tank as had so much bad publicity from IA that its more of a mystery for people today.
Post user evaluation (IA evaluations) of 2000-01 of Arjun and T-90, it was decided to induct T-90 for credible reasons.
a. Lack of developed or complete tank. Its FCS was miserable, there was a problem of underpowering and poor engine performance in deserts where temperatures went over 45'C in open.
b. Lack of support infrastructure in terms of fording capacity etc (read bridging equipment)
c. lack of dedicate transport system
etc .... were just a few. At the same time claims of too large, too heavy and too slow were also made.
Post Arjuns failures in 2001, DRDO was threatened with closure of whole program by IA which ruled out any more orders (of 124 made under pressure of GoI)and as such it got down to seriously sorting out the problems it faced with the tank which met ultimately with great success only by late 2006 by which time IA had ruled out induction of the same.
result:
1. Arjun today is in class of M1, Leopard, Challenger, LeClerc type of tanks and incorporated latest designing trends of West of blow out compartments which afford crew survivability in an environment of exploding tank munition in case the tank is hit. So it is based on enhanced crew protection for after hit conditions and sports composite armor "Kanchan" which has been tested to hold true to a direct hit from Israeli APFSDs KE with DU reinforcement even at close proximities. Thus giving it a high first hit survivability akin to M1 and others and making it into a true stand alone hunter-killer class of tank (far different from situation in 2001)
2. Induction of BFAT (military acronym for heavy flat cars used by railways for transports) and Sarvatra (MLC-70 type bridging equipment) allowed easier transportation.
3. FCS has drastically been improved to operate at sustained internal temperature of 45'C. Since internal temps are higher in Rajasthan sector, the tank has been incorporated with inbuilt air conditioning system thus ensuring optimal temperature for electronics and computers to work.
4. Contrary to popular misconception, its weight is more easily distributed along its base in comparision to T-90 etc thus making it easier for the tank to be operated in desert conditions.
5. DRDO has finished designing a tank protection suite on lines of Kontakt-5 ERA and Shtora-1 (more in line with yet to be fielded Relikt)unique to IA requirements for the tank and the same is being tested at present.
remaining information can be seen from
Arjun (tank) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arjun Tank?s Defensive Systems To Undergo Trials | India Defence Online