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General Dynamics

General Dynamics is a defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures. It has changed markedly in the post-Cold War era of defense consolidation.

Product lines as of 2002

• Aerospace - business aircraft
• Combat Systems - land and amphibious military vehicles M1 Tank, Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV), the XM2001 Crusader artillery system, and the Interim Armored Vehicle
• Information Systems and Technology
• Marine Systems - Seawolf-, Ohio-, and Los Angeles-class submarines and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers

Legacy and Aquisitions

• Electric Boat was established in 1899 and became General Dynamics in 1952
• Convair merged in 1954
• Chrysler combat systems were acquired in 1982
• Bath Iron Works was established in 1890 and acquired in 1995
• Gulfstream Aerospace was founded in 1958 and acquired from Forstmann Little, in 2001
• National Steel and Shipbuilding was established in 1905 and acquired in 1998

Subsidiaries

• General Dynamics Land Systems
• General Dynamics Armament Systems

Businesses sold

• coal mining
• building materials
• limestone
• concrete
• Cessna in 1992 to Textron
• space systems to Martin Marietta
• tactical missiles
• fixed wing military aircraft

Financials

It has about $12 billion in sales, primarily military, but also civilian with its Gulfstream Aerospace unit and conventional ship-building and repair with its National Steel and Shipbuilding subsidiary.

It has tried to acquire Newport News Shipbuilding but been blocked by regulators and competitors.