Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Oct. 04, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Consolidation and Classification	Basis of Consolidation and Classification. The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of General Dynamics Corporation and our wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all inter-company balances and transactions in the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Consistent with defense industry practice, we classify assets and liabilities related to long-term production contracts as current, even though some of these amounts may not be realized within one year.
Interim Financial Statements	Interim Financial Statements. The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. These rules and regulations permit some of the information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to be condensed or omitted. Our fiscal quarters are 13 weeks in length. Because our fiscal year ends on December 31, the number of days in our first and fourth quarters varies slightly from year to year. Operating results for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 4, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015. The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of our results of operations and financial condition for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 4, 2015, and September 28, 2014. These unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition. We account for revenue and earnings using the percentage-of-completion method. Under this method, contract costs and revenue are recognized as the work progresses, either as the products are produced or as services are rendered. We estimate the profit on a contract as the difference between the total estimated revenue and expected costs to complete a contract and recognize that profit over the life of the contract. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, we recognize the loss in the quarter it is identified. We review and update our contract-related estimates regularly. We recognize changes in estimated profit on contracts under the reallocation method. Under the reallocation method, the impact of a revision in estimate is recognized prospectively over the remaining contract term. The net increase in our operating earnings (and on a diluted per-share basis) from the impact of revisions in contract estimates totaled favorable changes of $44 ($0.09) and $152 ($0.30) for the three- and nine-month periods ended October 4, 2015, and $13 ($0.02) and $103 ($0.20) for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 28, 2014, respectively. No revisions on any one contract were material to our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in the third quarter or first nine months of 2015 or 2014. In the second quarter of 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2014-09 prescribes a single, common revenue standard that replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The standard outlines a five-step model, whereby revenue is recognized as performance obligations within a contract are satisfied. The standard also requires new, expanded disclosures regarding revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is effective in the first quarter of 2018 for public companies. However, entities can elect to adopt one year earlier in the first quarter of 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We have not yet selected a transition date or method nor have we determined the effect of the standard on our consolidated financial statements as the standard has not been finalized, and we continue to analyze the standard's impact on our contract portfolio. The required adoption of the ASU will preclude our use of the reallocation method of recognizing revisions in estimated profit on contracts discussed above. As changes in estimated profit will be recognized in the period they are identified (cumulative catch-up method), rather than prospectively over the remaining contract term, we expect that the impact of revisions of contract estimates may be larger and potentially more variable from period to period. Anticipated losses on contracts will continue to be recognized in the quarter they are identified.
Discontinued Operations	Discontinued Operations. We completed the sale of our axle business in the Combat Systems group in January 2015. The 2014 financial statements have been restated to reflect the results of operations of this business in discontinued operations.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events. We have evaluated material events and transactions that have occurred after October 4, 2015, and concluded that none have occurred that require adjustment to or disclosure in the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.