Any info on what the army found wanting in this particular MBT?
I do think it a good thing that India is moving toward self supply in military equipment.
I don’t know all the details, but I do remember reading there were overheating issues. IIRC, many of the tank’s electronic systems malfunctioned when the tank operated in extremely hot environments, such as in the Thar desert (which covers a large part of the border with Pakistan, btw).
All your questions will be answered if you take one look at the Indian army’s armoured inventory-it’s been almost all T-72 since the early 80s. In other words, training, logistics and pretty much everything else is based on having a three-man, 125 mm smoothbore gun on a thin skinned tank that can be transported on India’s rail network and even the IL-76 airlifter.
The Arjun, on the other hand is more in the Western mode-it was developed using German help and is being updated with the Israelis-its about 55 tonnes, 4 man crew and 120 mm rifled bore gun.In other words, you need a whole new logistics system for it. The army, not surprisingly doesn’t want it because it would have to reorient everything. The Arjun has had its issues including overheating and firecontrol issues-which tank hasn’t??? Anyway the T-90 is no better and it had severe issues with its electronics in the Thar.