General Dynamics
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox company
General Dynamics Corporation (GD), headquartered in Reston, Virginia, is an American industrial and technology company. It is primarily a developer and producer of advanced military equipment of a wide variety, such as nuclear submarines, main battle tanks, and armoured fighting vehicles. It is also the manufacturer of the civilian aviation Gulfstream business jets and a provider of information technology services. The company is the 3rd largest of the top 100 contractors of the U.S. federal government; it receives over 3% of total spending by the federal government of the United States on contractors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The company is ranked 96th on the Fortune 100<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 242nd on the Forbes Global 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, 69% of revenue was from the federal government of the United States, 14% was from U.S. commercial customers, 10% was from non-U.S. government customers and 7% was from non-U.S. commercial customers.<ref name=10K/>
The company was formed in 1952 via the merger of submarine manufacturer Electric Boat and aircraft manufacturer Canadair.<ref name=SellCandadair>Template:Cite news</ref>
History
1899–1920
Isaac Leopold Rice bought the Holland Torpedo Boat Company from John Philip Holland in 1899.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Holland continued to work at the company as chief engineer and the company was renamed Electric Boat Company.<ref name="history1">Template:Cite web</ref> Electric Boat was responsible for designing and building the Template:USS, purchased by the United States Navy in 1900 for $150,000 (roughly $5.75M in 2025).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Electric Boat also sold modified Holland-class and Plunger-class submarines to the British Royal Navy through the English armaments company Vickers as well as to Japan and Russia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1906, Electric Boat won contracts to design C-class submarines but subcontracted the construction to the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
When Holland passed away in 1914,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Lawrence Spear (who replaced him as chief engineer) redesigned the Holland submarine. The redesign replaced the submarine's observation dome with a conning tower, a periscope, and first-of-its-kind torpedo tubes.<ref name="history1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1911, Electric Boat acquired the New London Ship and Engine Company in Groton, Connecticut, to build parts for submarines, diesel engines, and commercial ships.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Isaac Rice died in 1915 and was replaced by his associate Henry Carse. Carse expanded the company with the purchase of several companies, including Electro Dynamics, Elco Motor Yacht, and New London Ship & Engine of Groton, Connecticut. Following the acquisitions, the company was renamed Submarine Boat Corporation. During World War I, the company received orders from the U.S. Navy to build 85 submarines, 722 submarine chasers, and 118 surface ships.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1921–1940
In 1924, the Peruvian government ordered two submarines built at the New London Ship & Engine shipyard in Groton, Connecticut.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1925, Carse reorganized the company, emphasized production of surface ships, and brought back the Electric Boat Company. In 1933, Electric Boat expanded its presence in Groton, Connecticut, by acquiring a second shipyard to build submarines. The Template:USS was the first submarine built at the Groton Shipyard.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the early 1930s, the U.S. government placed orders for submarines and PT (patrol/torpedo) boats from Electric Boat facilities at Groton and the Elco plant in New Jersey, respectively. Lawrence Spear retired in 1937, replaced by John Jay Hopkins. Hopkins led the company's strong re-emergence as a shipbuilder in World War II.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1941–1960
During World War II, Electric Boat and its Elco Yacht and Electro Dynamic subsidiaries mobilized full-capacity production. The sudden production expansion led to a labor shortage, and women filled the open jobs as welders and riveters. During World War II, Electric Boat produced 74 submarines and 398 PT boats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When the war ended in 1945, the Navy reduced its orders for new vessels, and the company reduced its workforce from 13,000 to 4,000.<ref name="history1" />
Electric Boat diversified at the end of WWII, so John Jay Hopkins acquired the Canadian government-owned Canadair<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> for $10 million in 1946. The factory alone was worth more than $22 million, according to the Canadian government's calculations, excluding the value of the remaining contracts for planes or spare parts. However, Canadair's production line and inventory systems were in disorder when Electric Boat purchased the company.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Hopkins hired Canadian-born mass-production specialist H. Oliver West to take over the president's role and return Canadair to profitability. Shortly after the takeover, Canadair began delivering its new Canadair North Star (a version of the Douglas DC-4) and was able to deliver aircraft to Trans-Canada Airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, and British Overseas, and Airways Corporation (BOAC) well in advance of their contracted delivery times.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" />
Defense spending increased with the onset of the Cold War, and Canadair went on to win many Canadian military contracts for the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a major aerospace company. These included Canadair CT-133 Silver Star trainer, the Canadair Argus long-range maritime reconnaissance and transport aircraft, and the Canadair F-86 Sabre. Between 1950 and 1958, 1,815 Sabres were built.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Canadair also produced 200 CF-104 Starfighter supersonic fighter aircraft, a license-built version of the Lockheed F-104.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1951, the company was awarded the contract to build the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus (SSN571).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The submarine was launched in 1954.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Aircraft production became increasingly important at Canadair, and Hopkins argued that the name "Electric Boat" was no longer appropriate. In 1952, Hopkins established the General Dynamics Corporation as a parent company holding Electric Boat and Canadair.<ref name="centennial_GD2">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1953, General Dynamics (GD) purchased Convair from the Atlas Group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The sale was approved by government oversight with the provision that GD would continue to operate out of Air Force Plant 4 in Fort Worth, Texas. This factory had been set up in order to spread out strategic aircraft production, and it was rented to Convair during the war to produce B-24 Liberator bombers. Convair worked as an independent division inside General Dynamics and, over the next decade, developed the F-106 Delta Dart interceptor, the B-58 Hustler bomber, and the Convair 880 and 990 airliners.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Convair also developed the Atlas missile, the U.S.'s first operational intercontinental ballistic missile.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Convair led the development of the American nuclear aircraft program, which the Pentagon enthusiastically supported. CEO Hopkins was a strong advocate of nuclear power and its numerous applications, but the nuclear airplane, or 'N-bomber,' was later found to be impractical, and the project was abandoned.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the late 1950s, General Dynamics hired Erik Nitsche as a graphic designer to develop corporate reports and advertising material designs, including the "Atoms for Peace" series of posters for the 1955 International Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Geneva, Switzerland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These designs have become iconic examples of the mid-century modernist graphic design style.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1957, Hopkins fell seriously ill and was replaced by Frank Pace later that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> John Naish succeeded Joseph McNarney as president of Convair.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the same year, General Dynamics purchased Liquid Carbonic Corporation in September 1957 and controlled it as a wholly owned subsidiary.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1959, the U.S. Navy commissioned Electric Boat to design and build the first fleet ballistic-missile submarine, USS George Washington (SSBN598).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The George Washington-class ballistic missile submarines were derived from the Skipjack-class submarine design, with a 130-foot missile compartment inserted between the control and reactor sections.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> The USS George Washington (SSBN-598) was initially laid down as the Skipjack-class USS Scorpion (SSN-589), but was repurposed during construction to accommodate the Polaris missile system. Materials from other planned attack submarines, including USS Sculpin (SSN-590), were also reallocated to the program.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The same year, Chicago industrialist Henry Crown became the company's largest shareholder and merged his Material Service Corporation with General Dynamics in 1959.<ref name="henrycrown">Template:Cite book</ref> General Dynamics subsequently reorganized into Eastern Group in New York City and Western Group in San Diego, California, with the latter taking over all of the aerospace activities and dropping the Convair brand name from its aircraft in the process. The board decided to build all future planes in Fort Worth, Texas, ending plane production at Convair's original plant in San Diego, California, but continuing with space and missile development there.<ref name="history2">Template:Cite book</ref>
1961–1980
In 1961, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara initiated the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) program to develop a single aircraft design for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> General Dynamics and Boeing were selected to submit updated designs. McNamara selected General Dynamics' proposal due to the greater commonality between its versions. The Boeing aircraft shared less than half of the major structural components. The F-111's design pioneered variable-sweep wings, after-burning turbofan engines, and automated terrain-following radar for low-level, high-speed flight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> General Dynamics continued to develop its version of the F-111 at the former Convair facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The company built 563 F-111s.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1962, Roger Lewis was appointed Chairman and CEO of General Dynamics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1963, General Dynamics purchased the Quincy Shipbuilding Works from Bethlehem Steel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1965, General Dynamics reorganized into 12 operating divisions based on product lines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1967, Electric Boat launched the USS Sturgeon (SSN637), the lead ship in the Sturgeon class of attack submarines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1970, the board replaced Roger Lewis with former McDonnell Douglas president David S. Lewis as Chief Executive Officer. David S. Lewis relocated the company headquarters to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1971.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later that year, Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding were awarded contracts to co-manufacture the Los Angeles-class submarines.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1972, Electric Boat received contracts for the design and development of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine. Electric Boat also developed a new modular process to build the 560-foot submarines;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the process remains the industry standard.<ref>Template:Cite web (See "stick building" approach)</ref> Construction of the flagship Los Angeles-class attack submarine began the same year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1973, General Dynamics established the Quonset Point Facility in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, to provide off-site manufacturing support for the Groton facility. Production began the following year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The U.S. Air Force initiated the Lightweight Fighter (LWF) program to develop a new fighter aircraft that met the requirements of Major John Boyd's "energy-maneuverability" theory. General Dynamics organized its own version of Lockheed's Skunk Works, the Advanced Concepts Laboratory, and responded with a new aircraft design incorporating advanced technologies.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> General Dynamics submitted a design in 1972 for a new lightweight fighter, the YF-16. The YF-16 first flew in January 1974 and proved slightly better performance than the Northrop Grumman YF-17 in head-to-head testing. General Dynamics YF-16 was selected as the first Lightweight Fighter for the U.S. Air Force. It entered production as the F-16 Fighting Falcon in January 1975 with an initial order of 650 and 1,388.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The F-16 also won contracts worldwide, beating the F-17 in foreign competition. General Dynamics built an aircraft production factory in Fort Worth, Texas to fulfill the contracts, and F-16 orders eventually totaled more than 4,600, making it the company's largest aircraft program.<ref>2025 World Air Forces, Flight Global, p. 10.</ref>
In 1975, General Dynamics Electric Boat broke ground on a land-level submarine construction facility in Groton, Connecticut.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Land Systems and Marine Systems focus
Template:Main Template:More citations needed In 1976, General Dynamics sold the struggling Canadair back to the Canadian government for $38 million. By 1984, General Dynamics had four divisions: Convair in San Diego, General Dynamics-Fort Worth, General Dynamics-Pomona, and General Dynamics-Electronics. In 1985 a further reorganization created the Space Systems Division from the Convair Space division. In 1985, GD also acquired Cessna. In 1986 the Pomona division (which mainly produced the Standard Missile and the Phalanx CIWS for the Navy) was split up, creating the Valley Systems Division. Valley Systems produced the Stinger surface-to-air missile and the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM). Both units were recombined into one entity in 1992. In 1986, the General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division was closed.
Henry Crown, still GD's largest shareholder, died on 15 August 1990. Following this, the company started to rapidly divest its under-performing divisions under CEO William Anders. Cessna was re-sold to Textron in January 1992, the San Diego and Pomona missile production units to General Motors-Hughes Aerospace in May 1992, the Fort Worth aircraft production to Lockheed in March 1993 (a nearby electronics production facility was separately sold to Israeli-based Elbit Systems, marking that company's entry into the US market), and its Space Systems Division to Martin Marietta in 1994. The remaining Convair Aircraft Structure unit was sold to McDonnell Douglas in 1994. The remains of the Convair Division were simply closed in 1996. GD's exit from the aviation world was short-lived, and in 1999 the company acquired Gulfstream Aerospace. The Pomona operation was closed shortly after its sale to Hughes Aircraft.
In 1995, General Dynamics purchased the privately held Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine, for $300 million, diversifying its shipbuilding portfolio to include U.S. Navy surface ships such as guided-missile destroyers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1998, the company acquired NASSCO, formerly National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, for $415 million. The San Diego shipyard produces U.S. Navy auxiliary and support ships as well as commercial ships that are eligible to be U.S.-flagged under the Jones Act.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Having divested itself of its aviation holdings, GD concentrated on land and sea products. GD purchased Chrysler's defense divisions in 1982, renaming them General Dynamics Land Systems. In 2003, it purchased the defense divisions of General Motors as well. It is now a major supplier of armored vehicles of all types, including the M1 Abrams, LAV 25, Stryker, and a wide variety of vehicles based on these chassis. Force Protection, Inc. was acquired by General Dynamics Land Systems in November 2011 for $350 million.
General Dynamics UK
Template:Main In 1997, General Dynamics acquired Computing Devices Ltd based in Hastings, England, which had developed avionics and mission systems for the Panavia Tornado, British Aerospace Harrier II and Hawker Siddeley Nimrod.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2001, Computing Devices Canada (CDC) was awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to supply tactical communication systems for their Bowman program. The work for this was carried out at its new UK headquarters in Oakdale, Wales, and the company was renamed General Dynamics UK Limited.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:As of, it comprises two business units: General Dynamics Land Systems – UK and General Dynamics Mission Systems – UK and operates in eight sites across the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is currently responsible for delivering the General Dynamics Ajax family of armored vehicles, the Foxhound light protected patrol vehicle and the Morpheus communications system to the UK Ministry of Defence.
21st century
In 2004, General Dynamics bid for the UK company Alvis plc, the leading British manufacturer of armored vehicles. In March the board of Alvis Vickers voted in favor of the £309m takeover. However at the last minute BAE Systems offered £355m for the company. This deal was finalized in June 2004.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On August 19, 2008, GD agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the US Government claiming that a GD unit fraudulently billed the government for defectively manufactured parts used in US military aircraft and submarines. The US alleged that GD defectively manufactured or failed to test parts used in US military aircraft from September 2001 to August 2003, such as for the C-141 Starlifter transport plane. The GD unit involved, based in Glen Cove, New York, closed in 2004.<ref>The Washington Post, "General Dynamics To Settle Suit For $4 Million", August 19, 2008, p. D4.</ref>
In 2014, the government of Canada announced it had selected the General Dynamics Land Systems subsidiary in London, Ontario, to produce Light Armoured Vehicles for Saudi Arabia as part of a $10 billion deal with the Canadian Commercial Corporation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The sale has been criticized by political opponents because of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.<ref name="Post_union">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Globe and Mail 2019-06-20">Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2018, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Canada might scrap the deal, the company warned that doing so could lead to "billions of dollars in liability" and risk the loss of thousands of jobs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Trudeau has since said that while he is critical of Saudi conduct, he cannot simply scrap the deal because "Canada as a country of the rule of law needs to respect its contracts."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 30 January 2019, CEO Phebe Novakovic warned investors that the matter had "significantly impacted" the company's cash flow because Saudi Arabia was nearly $2 billion in arrears on its payments.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2018, General Dynamics acquired information technology services giant CSRA for $9.7 billion, and merged it with GDIT.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
General Dynamics has been accused by groups such as Code Pink and Green America of "making money from human suffering by profiting off the migrant children held at U.S. detention camps"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> due to its IT services contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement, the government agency that operates shelters for unaccompanied children to include those separated from their families as part of the Trump administration family separation policy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company says it has no role in constructing or operating detention centers, and that its contracts to provide training and technical services began in 2000 and have spanned across four presidential administrations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
It was announced in September 2018 that the U.S. Navy awarded contracts for 10 new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Huntington Ingalls Industries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense General Jim Mattis re-joined the company's board of directors in August 2019. He had previously served on the board, but resigned and divested before becoming Secretary of Defense.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In September 2020, General Dynamics announced a strategic counter-drone partnership, providing General Dynamics' global network with access to Dedrone's complete drone detection and defeat technology.<ref>"General Dynamics Mission Systems and Dedrone Enter Strategic Partnership" UAS Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2020.</ref>
In December 2020, the board of directors for General Dynamics announced a regular quarterly dividend of $1.10, payable on February 5, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On December 26, 2020, General Dynamics confirmed that their business division General Dynamics Land Systems was awarded a $4.6 billion contract by the U.S. Army for M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tanks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
According to a report by Reuters, General Dynamics was the primary contractor for a United States military-run propaganda campaign to spread disinformation about the Sinovac Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, including using fake social media accounts to spread the disinformation that the Sinovac vaccine contained pork-derived ingredients and was therefore haram under Islamic law.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite news</ref> The campaign primarily targeted people in the Philippines and used a social media hashtag for "China is the virus" in Tagalog.<ref name=":6" /> The campaign ran from the spring of 2020 to mid-2021.<ref name=":6" /> In 2024, General Dynamics IT was awarded a $493 million contract by The Pentagon.<ref name=":6" /> According to an unnamed source cited by Reuters, a military audit of General Dynamics's work on the project concluded that the company had engaged in sloppy tradecraft and took inadequate precautions to conceal the origins of the fake accounts created for the campaign.<ref name=":6" />
General Dynamics' supply of weapons to Israel in the Gaza war has led to protests at facilities in Pittsfield, Massachusetts; Lincoln, Nebraska; Saco, Maine; New London, Connecticut; Red Lion, Pennsylvania;and Garland, Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Operations
The company's Gulfstream Aerospace division (23% of 2024 revenues) produces business jets including the Gulfstream G650/G700/G800 series and offers business aircraft services under Jet Aviation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=10K/> The company's marine systems division (30% of 2024 revenues) designs and builds nuclear submarines and includes Bath Iron Works, General Dynamics Electric Boat, and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company.<ref name=10K/> The company's combat systems division (19% of 2024 revenues) includes General Dynamics Land Systems,<ref name=lighter>Template:Cite news</ref> General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), Steyr-Daimler-Puch,<ref name=debuts>Template:Cite news</ref> and Santa Bárbara Sistemas,<ref name=Latvia>Template:Cite news</ref> and produces Phalanx CIWS,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Expeditionary tanks, the M1 Abrams series main battle tank,<ref name=lighter/> Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> M104 Wolverine,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> LAV III,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Stryker armoured fighting vehicles,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> XM2001 Crusader self-propelled howitzer,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> GAU-17 (Minigun),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> GAU-19,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> ASCOD AFV,<ref name=Latvia/> Pandur II,<ref name=debuts/> Mowag (including Mowag Duro, Mowag Eagle, and Mowag Piranha),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Leopard 2E,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Scout SV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=10K/> The company's technologies division (28% of 2024 revenues) includes General Dynamics Mission Systems and provides services such as consulting, mission-support, mobile communication, computers, command-and-control and cyber (C5) mission systems, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.<ref name=10K/> It is modernizing the information technology systems of the United States Central Command<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.<ref name=10K/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Acquisitions timeline
20th-century acquisitions
| Year | Acquisition | Business group |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Canadair<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Aerospace |
| 1953 | Convair<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Aerospace |
| 1955 | Stromberg-Carlson<ref name="history3">Template:Cite web</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 1957 | Liquid Carbonic Corporation<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Aerospace |
| 1959 | Material Service Corporation<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 1982 | Chrysler's combat systems<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 1995 | Bath Iron Works<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Marine Systems |
| 1996 | Teledyne Vehicle Systems<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Marine Systems |
| 1997 | Advanced Technology Systems<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 1997 | Lockheed Martin Defense Systems<ref name="Washington Business Journal">Template:Cite web</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 1997 | Lockheed Martin Armament Systems<ref name="Washington Business Journal"/> | Combat Systems |
| 1997 | Computing Devices International<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Technologies |
| 1998 | National Steel and Shipbuilding Company<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Marine Systems |
| 1999 | Gulfstream Aerospace<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Aerospace |
| 1999 | GTE Government Systems<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2000 | Saco Defense<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Combat Systems |
21st-century acquisitions
| Year | Acquisition | Business group |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | PrimeX Technologies Inc.<ref>"Primex Technologies acquired by General Dynamics" Tampa Bay Business Journal, January 24, 2001.</ref> | Technologies |
| 2001 | Motorola Integrated Systems<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2001 | Galaxy Aerospace Company<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Aerospace |
| 2001 | Santa Bárbara Sistemas<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2002 | EWK Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2003 | GM Defense<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2003 | Steyr-Daimler-Puch SpezialfahrzeugTemplate:Citation needed | Combat Systems |
| 2003 | Veridian and Digital Systems Resources<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2003 | Datron's Intercontinental Manufacturing Company<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2004 | Spectrum Astro<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Aerospace |
| 2004 | MOWAG<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2005 | MAYA Viz Ltd <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2005 | Tadpole Computer<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2005 | Itronix<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2006 | FC Business Systems <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2006 | Anteon International<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Technologies |
| 2007 | Mediaware International <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Technologies |
| 2008 | ViPS, Inc.<ref>"HLTH Announces Agreement to Sell ViPS Unit to General Dynamics for $225 Million". HLTH Corporation Press Release, June 3, 2008. Template:Webarchive</ref> | Technologies |
| 2008 | Jet Aviation<ref>"General Dynamics to Boost Gulfstream With Jet Aviation Purchase". The Washington Post, August 20, 2008.</ref> | Aerospace |
| 2009 | Axletech International<ref>"General Dynamics Completes Acquisition of AxleTech International". The Carlyle Group, January 4, 2009.</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2010 | Kylmar Ltd.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2011 | Vangent, Inc.<ref>"General Dynamics to Acquire Arlington Contractor for Nearly $1 Billion". The Washington Post, August 16, 2011.</ref> | Technologies |
| 2011 | Metro Machine Imperial Docks Inc.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Marine Systems |
| 2011 | Force Protection Inc.<ref>General Dynamics to buy Force Protection. Reuters.</ref> | Combat Systems |
| 2012 | Earl Industries’ Ship Repair Division<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Marine Systems |
| 2012 | Open Kernel Labs<ref>General Dynamics acquires NICTA start-up Open Kernel Labs. NICTA, September 12, 2012.</ref> | Technologies |
| 2012 | Applied Physical Sciences<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> | Aerospace |
| 2016 | Bluefin Robotics<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> | Marine Systems |
| 2018 | CSRA Inc.<ref name="USA T2018">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CNBC 2018">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="TWSJ 2018">Template:Cite news</ref> | Technologies |
| 2018 | Hawker Pacific<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Aerospace |
| 2018 | FWW Fahrzeugwerk GmbH<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Combat Systems |
Divestitures
| Year | Divestiture | Purchaser |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Liquid Carbonic Corporation<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Houston Natural Gas Co. |
| 1957 | Asbestos Corporation Limited | Société nationale de l'amiante (SNA) |
| 1967 | General Atomics<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Gulf Oil |
| 1976 | Canadair<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Canadian government |
| 1991 | Data Systems Division<ref name="Los Angeles Times">General Dynamics Sells a Third San Diego Unit. Los Angeles Times, October 06, 1992.</ref> | Computer Sciences Corporation |
| 1995 | Tactical Missiles Division | Hughes Aircraft Company |
| 1992 | Cessna<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Textron |
| 1992 | Electronics Division<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | The Carlyle Group |
| 1993 | Fort Worth Division (F-16s)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Lockheed Corporation |
| 1994 | Space Systems Division<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Martin Marietta |
| 1994 | Convair's aerostructure unit<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | McDonnell Douglas |
| 2006 | Material Service<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Hanson |
| 2007 | Freeman United Coal Mining Co.<ref>Crown II Mine Closing; Freeman Coal Sold to New Company. Red Orbit, September 4, 2007.</ref> | Springfield Coal Co. |
| 2010 | Spacecraft development and manufacturing<ref>Orbital buys General Dynamics' spacecraft business . BusinessWeek.</ref> | Orbital Sciences Corporation |
| 2014 | Advanced Systems<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates |
Corporate affairs
Corporate governance
General Dynamics current chairman and chief executive officer is Phebe Novakovic.
| Board Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Phebe Novakovic | Chairman and chief executive officer |
| James Crown | Lead Director |
| Rudy de Leon | Director |
| Cecil D. Haney | Director and chair, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee |
| Mark M. Malcolm | Director |
| Jim Mattis | Director |
| C. Howard Nye | Director and chair, Audit Committee |
| Robert K. Steel | Director and chair, Sustainability Committee |
| Catherine B. Reynolds | Director and chair, Finance and Benefit Plans Committee |
| Laura J. Schumacher | Director and chair, Compensation Committee |
| John G. Stratton | Director |
| Peter A. Wall | Director |
As of December 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Financials
| Year | Revenue in mil. US$<ref name=macrotrends>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Net income in mil. US$ |
Assets in mil. US$ |
Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 20,975 | 1,461 | 19,700 | 72,200 |
| 2006 | 24,063 | 1,856 | 22,376 | 81,000 |
| 2007 | 27,240 | 2,072 | 25,733 | 83,500 |
| 2008 | 29,300 | 2,459 | 28,373 | 92,300 |
| 2009 | 31,981 | 2,394 | 31,077 | 91,700 |
| 2010 | 32,466 | 2,624 | 32,545 | 90,000 |
| 2011 | 32,677 | 2,526 | 34,883 | 95,100 |
| 2012 | 30,992 | −332 | 34,309 | 92,200 |
| 2013 | 30,930 | 2,357 | 35,494 | 96,000 |
| 2014 | 30,852 | 2,533 | 35,337 | 99,500 |
| 2015 | 31,781 | 3,036 | 31,997 | 99,900 |
| 2016 | 30,561 | 2,572 | 33,172 | 98,800 |
| 2017 | 30,973 | 2,912 | 35,046 | 98,600 |
| 2018 | 36,193 | 3,345 | 45,408 | 105,600 |
| 2019 | 39,350 | 3,484 | 49,349 | 102,900 |
| 2020 | 37,925 | 3,167 | 51,308 | 100,700 |
| 2021 | 38,469 | 3,257 | 50,073 | 103,100 |
| 2022 | 39,407 | 3,390 | 51,585 | 106,500 |
As of January 2023.<ref name=macrotrends/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carbon emissions
General Dynamics reported Total CO2e emissions (Direct + Indirect) for 2021 at 696,118 mt (-8.7% year over year) and aims to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2034. The company is on track to become carbon neutral before 2060.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 901,666 | 817,293 | 821,773 | 784,264 | 794,161 | 762,200 | 696,118 | 681,454 |
Company demographics
In 2021, General Dynamics's U.S. workforce was 21% veterans, 23% female, and 27% people of color. The US Department of Labor awarded the company the 2021 HIRE Vets Gold Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The company has 26 Employee Resource Groups serving 10 employee segments.<ref name="Responsibility">Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately 20% of the company's employees are represented by labor unions such as International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), The International Union, and United Auto Workers (UAW).<ref name="Responsibility" /> Independent research published by American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), U.S. Department of Labor, Military Times, U.S. Veterans Magazine, Professional Women's Magazine, Forbes, and Fortune selected General Dynamics as a top employer.<ref name="Responsibility" /> General Dynamics' community contributions in 2021 were 70% in Education & Social Services, 18% in Arts & Culture, and 12% in Service Member Support.<ref name="Responsibility" />
See also
- Top 100 Contractors of the U.S. federal government
- List of companies headquartered in Northern Virginia
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of United States defense contractors
- List of current ships of the United States Navy
- List of currently active United States military land vehicles
- List of shipbuilders and shipyards
References
Citations
Sources
- Patents owned by General Dynamics Corporation. US Patent & Trademark Office. URL accessed on 5 December 2005.
- Template:Webarchive from a GeoCities-hosted website
- Compton-Hall, Richard. The Submarine Pioneers. Sutton Publishing, 1999.
- Franklin, Roger. The Defender: The Story of General Dynamics. Harper & Row, 1986.
- General Dynamics. Dynamic America. General Dynamics/Doubleday Publishing Company, 1960.
- Goodwin, Jacob. Brotherhood of Arms: General Dynamics and the Business of Defending America. Random House, 1985.
- Pederson, Jay P. (Ed.). International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 40. St. James Press, March 2001. Template:ISBN. (General Dynamics section, pp. 204–210). See also International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 86. St. James Press, July 2007. Template:ISBN (General Dynamics/Electric Boat Corporation section, pp. 136–139).
- Morris, Richard Knowles. John P. Holland 1841–1914, Inventor of the Modern Submarine. The University of South Carolina Press, 1998. (Book originally copyrighted and published by the United States Naval Institute Press, 1966.)
- Morris, Richard Knowles. Who Built Those Subs?. United States Naval Institute Press, October 1998. (125th Anniversary issue)
- Rodengen, Jeffrey. The Legend of Electric Boat, Serving The Silent Service. Write Stuff Syndicate, 1994. Account revised in 2007.
External links
Template:Finance links Template:General Dynamics Template:Convair/GD aircraft
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