Level: 98
Light Size Class: Dreadnaught
Space: 461 / 547
Attack: 958
Defense: 537
Scan: 126
Cloak: 5
Cargo: 1346 / 1515
Minerals 326 units / hour
Artifacts 611 points / hour
Research: 1830 per hour
Research tree:
Attack- Antimatter Stream 0/3
Energy- Isomorphic Entanglement 0/1
Shields- inverse Gravitational Fields
Stealth- none
Armor- Nexus Grids 0/3
Defense- Microwarp Nacelles 0/3
Scanning- Quantum Resonance Sensors 1/3
Planet building- Quantum Assembly 2/3
Base construction- none

I have a horrible time keeping my ship alive in combat, id like to last longer then 10 min of being repaired just to be disabled on the battle tab. Whats a good ratio for attack n defense.....
And last but not least what do i need to do immediately to improve status?

Most PvP ships in your range would have around 1000-1500 attack, so get your defense up to at least that (more defense research). How much hull do you have? Around 4000-5000 will keep most ships away from you

My hull is 1560 lol i guess ive got some catching up to do.

Ok you dont need to have more than 100 scan on normaly. above 50 is good.
Im guessing your ship has a lot of reactors to fill your space. posting what modules you have on would be helpfull so we can tell you what to have installed and what to uninstall

Weapons: Heavy Singularity Launcher x4 , Psionic Amplifier, Radiant Surge Cannon x2 , Prototype Mech XV

Energy: Dark Energy Core - Mark IV x3 , F.A.T.H.E.R. x2, Transconduit x2 , Omicron Injector

Sensors: Overcharged Q-Phased PlatingDatastream Compiler x4 , AI Supercomputer

Shield: Harmonic Resonator

Cloaking: none

Defense: Auto-Evasion Node, Trinity-Core Drive x2

Ok you only need 2 of those data stream compiles on your ship to see troop carriers and other great single person ncps so 2 of them can come off.
remove a couple of heavy singulartiy launchers and put all deck space freed up into hulls so that your ship has more health so takes more shots to kill.
I would also suggest slowing your ranking and researching better scanners for better artifact planets, planetary structures for better production from each and better hulls for more health. make sure your in a good base level 5+ so your getting lots of base production.
Ranking quickly has the problem off reducing ship strength. even if you dont pvp you will want to slow down so you can survive more shots