XML 20 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Debt (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Apr. 05, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Commercial Paper $ 0us-gaap_CommercialPaper  
Total debt 3,411us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations 3,911us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Debt, Current 1us-gaap_DebtCurrent 501us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Long-term debt 3,410us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent 3,410us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Fixed-Rate Notes Due January 2015    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 0us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJanuaryTwoThousandFifteenMember
500us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJanuaryTwoThousandFifteenMember
Interest Rate 1.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJanuaryTwoThousandFifteenMember
 
Fixed-Rate Notes Due July 2016    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 500us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJulyTwoThousandSixteenMember
500us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJulyTwoThousandSixteenMember
Interest Rate 2.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJulyTwoThousandSixteenMember
 
Fixed Rate Notes Due November 2017    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 897us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandSeventeenMember
897us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandSeventeenMember
Interest Rate 1.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandSeventeenMember
 
Fixed-Rate Notes Due July 2021    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 499us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJulyTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
499us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJulyTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
Interest Rate 3.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueJulyTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
 
Fixed Rate Notes Due November 2022    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 992us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
992us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
Interest Rate 2.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
 
Fixed Rate Notes Due November 2042    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt 498us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandFortyTwoMember
498us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandFortyTwoMember
Interest Rate 3.60%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= gd_FixedRateNotesDueNovemberTwoThousandFortyTwoMember
 
Other Debt Securities    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Other Various  
Total debt $ 25us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember
$ 25us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_OtherDebtSecuritiesMember