By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon tapped teams led by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research), General Dynamics Corp (GD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and BAE Systems Plc (BAES.L: Quote, Profile, Research) for the first stage of a potential $40 billion competition to replace the workhorse Humvee vehicle used by U.S. forces in Iraq and elsewhere.

The trio were awarded 27-month technology development contracts to build and test prototypes of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, a family of armored combat and scout trucks.

The Pentagon's top six suppliers had been among those bidding for the contracts, with initial values of $35.9 million for Lockheed's team; $45.1 million for General Dynamics' team; and $40.5 million for the team led by BAE Systems Land & Armaments-Ground Systems Division.

The BAE-led team includes Navistar International Corp (NAV.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

Lockheed's team includes another BAE Systems unit called Mobility and Protection Systems based in Houston, Texas.

General Dynamics Corp (GD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is paired with Humvee maker AM General LLC.

Lt. Gen. Ross Thompson, military deputy to the army's chief weapons buyer, said, "Today we've selected the three most promising contenders to receive the resources to further develop their ideas."

The losers included Finmeccanica SpA (SIFI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) unit DRS Technologies; Textron Inc (TXT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) teamed with Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and SAIC Inc (SAI.N: Quote, Profile, Research); Raytheon Co (RTN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Blackwater USA; and Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research), paired with specialty truck maker Oshkosh Corp (OSK.N: Quote, Profile, Research).