You can use the ng-selected directive on the option elements. It takes expression that if truthy will set the selected property.
In this case:
<option ng-selected="data.unit == item.id"
ng-repeat="item in units"
ng-value="item.id">{{item.label}}</option>
Demo
angular.module("app",[]).controller("myCtrl",function($scope) {_x000D_
$scope.units = [_x000D_
{'id': 10, 'label': 'test1'},_x000D_
{'id': 27, 'label': 'test2'},_x000D_
{'id': 39, 'label': 'test3'},_x000D_
]_x000D_
_x000D_
$scope.data = {_x000D_
'id': 1,_x000D_
'unit': 27_x000D_
}_x000D_
_x000D_
});
_x000D_
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.2.23/angular.min.js"></script>_x000D_
<div ng-app="app" ng-controller="myCtrl">_x000D_
<select class="form-control" ng-change="unitChanged()" ng-model="data.unit">_x000D_
<option ng-selected="data.unit == item.id" ng-repeat="item in units" ng-value="item.id">{{item.label}}</option>_x000D_
</select>_x000D_
</div>
_x000D_