You misunderstood... Orginal post edited.
There was no proper discussion. Open Arjun thread and you will see in 2015 I ahd disused the issue over 100 pages discussion on Armata Vs Arjun and IA RFP for future tanks,.
You don't get XUV for the price of TATA Sumo, but wholeheartedly agreed on the first point.
Right. ATAGS is not SUV and ATHOS is not Tata Sumo. Is It ?
you do get two T-90 for the price of one Arjun !
Right from the '90s they should have just slapped on armour modules to T-55, made upgraded copies of Bofors & M-46 etc... something that wouldn't take much effort. The crappiest crap they ever made, actually got widely adopted into Indian Army!!!
Since 1980s, when I was in Institute of Armament and technology, I ahve been hearing of all bull shit - NAG, Modern Tank, Modern Guns, electronic fuzes, then FINSAS,- what not and what not.
It took Indian Army 30 years to convince DRDO / OFB that there were problems with INSAS but they needed Nepalese, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Armies to throw their INSAS on their faces.
Indian Army in particular has suffered tremendously due to DRDO / OFB they being their major suppliers.
Otherwise they're just kidding themselves with actual R&D, because a few officers in the army will invariably change requirements to suit their party.
Armament technologies and nature of warfare has been changing at a very vast pace. So what army requires today may not be vaild five years hence. GSQR are bound to change with changing technology and needs of warfare. Any one who does not understand that has no business to be in DRDO or OFB.
And yes.. Indian Army doesn't owe them orders, so everyone might as well stop pretending & downscale Arjun, ATAGS to export-worthy cheaper versions, like China does.
Tejas competing in RMAF tender is actually India first proper try ever.
Export it who has stopped anyone. RMAF want tejas for free so give it to them. IAF will be more than happy. One Indian company sells best of Basmati rice to Iran. No one has stopped them.