The Polish Ministry of Defence will announce a tender in the next few months to acquire 16 lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft to replace the air force’s aging fleet of trainer planes.

The Polish Air Force (PAF) will acquire the LIFT aircraft between 2013 and 2015 to replace its current fleet of TS-11 Iskra trainer jets, according to DefenseNews.

The ministry will spend about 1.45bn zloty ($450m) for the aircraft and related logistics support, including flight simulators and training for Polish pilots.

Italy’s Aermacchi will field its M-346, while a joint venture of Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin will offer the T-50 and the UK’s BAE Systems will propose its Hawk for the deal.