Advanced Defense Vehicle Systems filed the protest with the Government Accountability Office but officials said the complaint was unlikely to setback U.S. Army's September plan to award contracts this summer for the new combat vehicle program.

The small Michigan-based company known by its acronym ADVS said in a statement that it had "submitted a proposal that offered proven technology developed by ADVS and its subcontractors that would provide the Army with an innovative, maneuverable vehicle offering an extraordinary level of crew protection."

Still, the ADVS proposal was rejected on grounds of what Defense News claimed to unmet requirements set by the U.S. Army. Until that rejection, ADVS was among four companies bidding for a piece of the program.

All proposals for the first phase of the combat vehicle program were submitted in late May. Program officials expect to award up to three contracts for the technology development phase by Sept. 27.

The Army launched the GCV program in April 2009 as part of a larger Army Brigade Combat Team Modernization program, formerly known as Future Combat Systems. The modernization plan opts to use mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles while upgrading those currently in use, particularly the Styker.

Military experts anticipate the first ground combat vehicle to be used in infantry fighting, providing what they call a "highly survivable platform" for transferring infantry squads in field operations.

It is the first vehicle that will be designed from the ground up to operate in an improvised explosive device environment.

In recent weeks, senior U.S. Army officials have indicated their desire to trim combat vehicles in size and weight.

The Army's Chief of Staff, Gen. George Casey, has specifically said that future replacements should be much lighter than the estimated 70 tons that program officials have specified that the new combat vehicle should weigh.

"I keep saying, 'Look, man, an MRAP is about 23 tons, and you're telling me this is going to be 70 tons, which is the same as an (M1) Abrams (tank). Surely we can get a level of protection between that, that is closer to the MRAP than it is the M1,'" Casey was quoted as saying by the Army Times earlier this month. "It's not going to be a super heavyweight vehicle."

Also vying for the bid is BAE Systems, which has teamed with Northrop Grumman. Other industry teams have yet to be announced.

At least three contracts will be involved in the project. They include technology development, engineering and manufacturing design.Once the primary contractors are selected, the U.S. Army could take delivery of the vehicles within 5-7 years, military experts forecast.

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