XML 82 R66.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Segment Reporting Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Apr. 02, 2017 | Apr. 03, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Revenues |  | $ 7,441 | $ 7,476
Operating earnings |  | 1,035 | 924
Aerospace |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Revenues |  | 2,074 | 1,781
Operating earnings |  | 443 | 332
Combat Systems |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Revenues |  | 1,287 | 1,245
Operating earnings |  | 205 | 187
Information Systems and Technology |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Revenues |  | 2,146 | 2,328
Operating earnings |  | 236 | 237
Marine Systems |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Revenues |  | 1,934 | 2,122
Operating earnings |  | 161 | 184
Corporate |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |
Revenues | [1] | 0 | 0
Operating earnings | [1] | $ (10) | $ (16)
[1] | * Corporate operating results consist primarily of stock option expense.

X
- Definition The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gd_AerospaceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gd_CombatSystemsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gd_InformationSystemsAndTechnologyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gd_MarineSystemsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |