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                                           EXHIBIT 4, ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
                                            FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                   COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-3671



                          GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION

                LETTER RE AGREEMENT TO FURNISH COPY OF INDENTURE



Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, D.C. 20549


To the Commission:

          Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, the company is not
filing the indenture with respect to long-term debt because the amount of
securities currently authorized under the indenture does not exceed 10 percent
of the total assets of the company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
Upon request, the company will furnish copies of the indenture to the Securities
and Exchange Commission.




                                                Very truly yours,


                                                /s/ Paul A. Hesse
                                                -----------------
                                                Paul A. Hesse
                                                Secretary
                                                General Dynamics Corporation



