A team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] finished the Global Positioning System III (GPS III) spacecraft integrated baseline review on schedule, the company announced.

That effort with the Air Force leads toward a future preliminary design review.

GPS III will improve position, navigation, and timing services for the warfighter and civil users worldwide and provide advanced anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system security, accuracy and reliability, according to Lockheed.

The baseline review included an overview of the entire program, and established a baseline in relation to program cost, schedule and technical requirements.

The Lockheed team includes ITT [ITT] in Clifton, N.J. and General Dynamics Corp. [GD] unit Advanced Information Systems in Gilbert, Ariz.

The companies are on track to complete the space vehicle Preliminary Design Review in the second quarter of next year.

The team is working under a $1.4 billion development and production contract awarded in May by the Global Positioning Systems Wing of the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

This program aims to produce the first two GPS IIIA satellites, with first launch projected for 2014. The contract also includes options for up to 10 additional spacecraft.

The Boeing Co. [BA] also leads a team seeking the GPS III prize.