XML 43 R76.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Equity Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Number of shares available for grant 13us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant    
Weighted average fair value per option granted $ 13.99us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 8.90us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 13.23us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Stock option expense reduced operating earnings $ 59gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedOperatingEarnings $ 74gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedOperatingEarnings $ 88gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedOperatingEarnings
Stock option expense earnings per share $ 0.11gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedEarningsPerShare $ 0.14gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedEarningsPerShare $ 0.16gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedEarningsPerShare
Unrecognized compensation cost related to stock 42us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized    
Total intrinsic value of options exercised 340us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 154us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 112us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
Cash received from the exercise of stock options 547us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 583us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 146us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
Restricted Stock [Member]      
Awards of stock options vest over number of years 4 years    
Stock Options      
Awards of stock options vest over number of years 2 years    
Recognition period for unrecognized compensation cost for restricted stock and RSUs 1 year    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value 47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
63us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
28us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Stock option expense reduced operating earnings 69gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedOperatingEarnings
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
46gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedOperatingEarnings
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
26gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedOperatingEarnings
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Stock option expense earnings per share $ 0.13gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedEarningsPerShare
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
$ 0.09gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedEarningsPerShare
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
$ 0.05gd_StockOptionExpenseReducedEarningsPerShare
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)      
Unrecognized compensation cost related to stock $ 32us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= gd_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
   
Recognition period for unrecognized compensation cost for restricted stock and RSUs 2 years 0 months 75 days    
Maximum | Stock Options      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 7 years    
Minimum | Stock Options      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 5 years    
Share-based Compensation Award, Vesting In One Year [Member]      
Percentage of stock options vesting in a period of one year 50.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember
   
Share-based Compensation Award, Vesting In Second Year [Member]      
Percentage of stock options vesting in a period of one year 50.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember