| Cover | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | |
| Document Information [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | PRE 14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000040533 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | 12 Months Ended | 36 Months Ended | |||
| Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2022 | ||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | Pay Versus Performance The “Compensation Actually Paid” values shown in the new, required table below do not reflect the compensation actually paid to the CEO or the NEOs. As such, the Compensation Committee did not consider the information provided in the table in structuring or determining compensation for our NEOs. For a complete discussion of the company’s executive compensation program and the Committee’s philosophy and approach, please refer to the CD&A section of this Proxy Statement (beginning on page 44). The table intends to compare “Pay Versus Performance” and prescribes a method to calculate “Compensation Actually Paid” (CAP). While the table shows SCT compensation and CAP values side by side, they are not comparable. Together with the salary and annual incentive, the SCT values include the accounting fair value of equity awards granted in the year shown (at the time the grant was made), whereas CAP values include a revaluation of the current grant at year-end, plus the year-over-year change in the fair value of multiple years of historical equity grants. Because CAP includes multiple years of grants, the calculation of CAP each year is heavily impacted by the change in the stock price The actual value of an equity award realized by an executive depends on several factors measured over multiple years, including the stock price, the financial performance of the company, the relative TSR performance of the company as compared to a peer group, timing of stock option exercises and other factors. Year Summary (a) Compensation (a)(b)(c) Average (a) Average (a)(b)(c) Value of Initial Fixed $100 Net Annual (e) GD S&P 500 (d) 2022 21,478,167 48,677,670 6,221,750 12,860,550 152 125 3,390 12.6% 2021 23,553,861 42,596,983 6,501,277 11,212,889 125 152 3,257 11.9% 2020 19,328,499 9,128,233 5,293,847 2,884,685 87 118 3,167 11.8% (a) For each year represented, Ms. Phebe N. Novakovic was our principal executive officer (PEO), and our non-PEO NEOs were Messrs. Jason W. Aiken, Mark L. Burns, Robert E. Smith and Mark C. Roualet. (b) Amounts shown for CAP are computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs during the applicable year. These amounts reflect total compensation as reported in the SCT with certain adjustments as required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K and described in footnote (c) below. (c) CAP reflects the exclusions and inclusions of equity awards for the PEO and the other NEOs as set forth below and calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation SCT Total to Compensation Actually Paid Reconciliation for the PEO and non-PEOs: Calculation (1) Calculation for PEO Calculation for Average of Non-PEOs Year 2020 ($) Year 2021 ($) Year 2022 ($) Year 2020 ($) Year 2021 ($) Year 2022 ($) Summary Compensation Table Total 19,328,499 23,553,861 21,478,167 5,293,847 6,501,277 6,221,750 Less aggregate change in actuarial present value of pension benefits (381,567) — — (242,276) — — Less grant date fair value of stock and option awards (14,210,301) (15,395,836) (15,091,731) (3,338,770) (3,795,780) (3,973,993) Add year-end fair value of awards granted during the fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the fiscal year 10,733,219 20,972,489 19,911,045 2,521,801 5,170,727 5,242,958 Add change in fair value (whether positive or negative) as of vesting date of awards granted in prior fiscal years for which all applicable vesting conditions were satisfied at fiscal year end or during the fiscal year (1,703,747) 1,765,099 4,975,264 (364,636) 399,754 1,158,304 Add change in fair value (whether positive or negative) as of fiscal year-end for unvested and outstanding awards granted in prior fiscal years (4,843,424) 11,475,277 17,170,099 (1,032,584) 2,883,961 4,154,201 Add dividends paid on unvested equity awards during the fiscal year 205,554 226,093 234,826 47,303 52,950 57,330 Compensation Actually Paid 9,128,233 42,596,983 48,677,670 2,884,685 11,212,889 12,860,550 (1) For the PEO and other NEOs, for each covered year, service cost and prior service cost of pension benefits equals $0, fair value of awards that are granted and vest in the same covered fiscal year equals $0, and fair value of awards granted in prior years that are determined to fail to meet the applicable vesting conditions during the covered fiscal year equals $0. (d) TSR shown in this table utilizes the S&P 500 Index which we use both as a performance metric in our PSUs and in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K included in the company’s consolidated audited financial statements filed with the SEC on Form 10-K for the years reflected in the table above. The comparison assumes $100 was invested for the period starting December 31, 2019 through December 31 of the applicable fiscal year in each of the company’s Common Stock and the S&P 500 Index. All dollar values assume reinvestment of the pre-tax value of dividends paid by companies included in the S&P 500 Index. The historical stock price performance of our Common Stock shown is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. (e) Pursuant to Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we determined annual ROIC to be the most important financial performance measure used to link company performance to CAP to our PEO and other NEOs in 2022. This performance measure may not have been the most important financial performance measure for years 2021 and 2020 and we may determine a different financial performance measure to be the most important such measure in future years. See Appendix A for a discussion of this non-GAAP measure. | ||||
| Company Selected Measure Name | annual ROIC | ||||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | (a) For each year represented, Ms. Phebe N. Novakovic was our principal executive officer (PEO), and our non-PEO NEOs were Messrs. Jason W. Aiken, Mark L. Burns, Robert E. Smith and Mark C. Roualet. | ||||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | (d) TSR shown in this table utilizes the S&P 500 Index which we use both as a performance metric in our PSUs and in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K included in the company’s consolidated audited financial statements filed with the SEC on Form 10-K for the years reflected in the table above. The comparison assumes $100 was invested for the period starting December 31, 2019 through December 31 of the applicable fiscal year in each of the company’s Common Stock and the S&P 500 Index. All dollar values assume reinvestment of the pre-tax value of dividends paid by companies included in the S&P 500 Index. The historical stock price performance of our Common Stock shown is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. | ||||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | [1] | $ 21,478,167 | $ 23,553,861 | $ 19,328,499 | |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | [1],[2],[3] | 48,677,670 | 42,596,983 | 9,128,233 | |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | Calculation for PEO Calculation for Average of Non-PEOs Year 2020 ($) Year 2021 ($) Year 2022 ($) Year 2020 ($) Year 2021 ($) Year 2022 ($) Summary Compensation Table Total 19,328,499 23,553,861 21,478,167 5,293,847 6,501,277 6,221,750 Less aggregate change in actuarial present value of pension benefits (381,567) — — (242,276) — — Less grant date fair value of stock and option awards (14,210,301) (15,395,836) (15,091,731) (3,338,770) (3,795,780) (3,973,993) Add year-end fair value of awards granted during the fiscal year that are outstanding and unvested as of the end of the fiscal year 10,733,219 20,972,489 19,911,045 2,521,801 5,170,727 5,242,958 Add change in fair value (whether positive or negative) as of vesting date of awards granted in prior fiscal years for which all applicable vesting conditions were satisfied at fiscal year end or during the fiscal year (1,703,747) 1,765,099 4,975,264 (364,636) 399,754 1,158,304 Add change in fair value (whether positive or negative) as of fiscal year-end for unvested and outstanding awards granted in prior fiscal years (4,843,424) 11,475,277 17,170,099 (1,032,584) 2,883,961 4,154,201 Add dividends paid on unvested equity awards during the fiscal year 205,554 226,093 234,826 47,303 52,950 57,330 Compensation Actually Paid 9,128,233 42,596,983 48,677,670 2,884,685 11,212,889 12,860,550 | ||||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | [1] | 6,221,750 | 6,501,277 | 5,293,847 | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | [1],[2],[3] | $ 12,860,550 | 11,212,889 | 2,884,685 | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | The following charts set forth the relationship between CAP to our PEO, the average of CAP to our other NEOs, and the company’s cumulative TSR, S&P 500 Index TSR, net earnings, and ROIC over the three-year period from 2020 through 2022, each as set forth in the table above. | ||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | |||||
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | 2022 Tabular List of Most Important Financial and Non-Financial Performance Measures The following table presents the financial and non-financial performance measures that the company considers to have been the most important in linking CAP to our PEO and other NEOs in 2022 as set forth in the table above to company performance. The measures in this table are not ranked. Most Important Performance Measures Diluted EPS Free Cash Flow Operating Margin Return on Invested Capital Total Shareholder Return | ||||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 152 | 125 | 87 | ||
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | [4] | 125 | 152 | 118 | |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 3,390 | $ 3,257 | $ 3,167 | ||
| Company Selected Measure Amount | [5] | 12.6 | 11.9 | 11.8 | |
| PEO Name | Phebe N. Novakovic | ||||
| Additional 402(v) Disclosure [Text Block] | 402 | ||||
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Measure Name | Diluted EPS | ||||
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Measure Name | Free Cash Flow | ||||
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Measure Name | Operating Margin | ||||
| Measure [Axis]: 4 | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Measure Name | Return on Invested Capital | ||||
| Measure [Axis]: 5 | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Measure Name | Total Shareholder Return | ||||
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 1 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ (381,567) | ||||
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 2 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ (15,091,731) | $ (15,395,836) | (14,210,301) | ||
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 3 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 19,911,045 | 20,972,489 | 10,733,219 | ||
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 4 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 4,975,264 | 1,765,099 | (1,703,747) | ||
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 5 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 17,170,099 | 11,475,277 | (4,843,424) | ||
| PEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 6 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 234,826 | 226,093 | 205,554 | ||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 1 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (242,276) | ||||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 2 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (3,973,993) | (3,795,780) | (3,338,770) | ||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 3 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 5,242,958 | 5,170,727 | 2,521,801 | ||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 4 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 1,158,304 | 399,754 | (364,636) | ||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 5 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 4,154,201 | 2,883,961 | (1,032,584) | ||
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Adjustment Type 6 [Member] | |||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 57,330 | $ 52,950 | $ 47,303 | ||
| [1] (a) For each year represented, Ms. Phebe N. Novakovic was our principal executive officer (PEO), and our non-PEO NEOs were Messrs. Jason W. Aiken, Mark L. Burns, Robert E. Smith and Mark C. Roualet. (b) Amounts shown for CAP are computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and do not reflect the actual amount of compensation earned by or paid to the NEOs during the applicable year. These amounts reflect total compensation as reported in the SCT with certain adjustments as required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K and described in footnote (c) below. (c) CAP reflects the exclusions and inclusions of equity awards for the PEO and the other NEOs as set forth below and calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (d) TSR shown in this table utilizes the S&P 500 Index which we use both as a performance metric in our PSUs and in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K included in the company’s consolidated audited financial statements filed with the SEC on Form 10-K for the years reflected in the table above. The comparison assumes $100 was invested for the period starting December 31, 2019 through December 31 of the applicable fiscal year in each of the company’s Common Stock and the S&P 500 Index. All dollar values assume reinvestment of the pre-tax value of dividends paid by companies included in the S&P 500 Index. The historical stock price performance of our Common Stock shown is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. (e) Pursuant to Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we determined annual ROIC to be the most important financial performance measure used to link company performance to CAP to our PEO and other NEOs in 2022. This performance measure may not have been the most important financial performance measure for years 2021 and 2020 and we may determine a different financial performance measure to be the most important such measure in future years. See Appendix A for a discussion of this non-GAAP measure. | |||||
