General Dynamics says tests crucial for US program

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) - General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) pushed back against any Pentagon rush to kill its projected $13.2 billion program to build a new landing-craft fleet for the U.S. Marine Corps.

"The testing and performance of these systems by Marines over the next 18 months will provide data essential for an informed decision on the program's future," Pete Keating, a company spokesman, said by email.

Earlier in the day, Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee, told reporters he expected the Pentagon to try to end the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program even though he said the Marines were "adamant" about keeping it. (Reporting by Jim Wolf; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)