XML 57 R44.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.2

Acquisitions and Divestitures, Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Changes In Amount of Goodwill (Details) $ in Millions | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, beginning of period | $ 19,594 | [1]
Acquisitions/divestitures | 92 | [2]
Other | (24) | [3]
Goodwill, end of period | 19,662 | [1]
Aerospace |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, beginning of period | 2,813 | [1]
Acquisitions/divestitures | 2 | [2]
Other | 13 | [3]
Goodwill, end of period | 2,828 | [1]
Combat Systems |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, beginning of period | 2,633 | [1]
Acquisitions/divestitures | 7 | [2]
Other | 32 | [3]
Goodwill, end of period | 2,672 | [1]
Information Technology |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, beginning of period | 9,622 | [1]
Acquisitions/divestitures | 77 | [2]
Other | 1 | [3]
Goodwill, end of period | 9,700 | [1]
Accumulated impairment losses | 536 |
Mission Systems |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, beginning of period | 4,229 | [1]
Acquisitions/divestitures | 6 | [2]
Other | (70) | [3]
Goodwill, end of period | 4,165 | [1]
Accumulated impairment losses | 1,300 |
Marine Systems |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, beginning of period | 297 | [1]
Acquisitions/divestitures | 0 | [2]
Other | 0 | [3]
Goodwill, end of period | $ 297 | [1]
[1] | Goodwill in the Information Technology and Mission Systems reporting units is net of $536 and $1.3 billion of accumulated impairment losses, respectively.
[2] | Includes adjustments during the purchase price allocation period.
[3] | Consists primarily of adjustments for foreign currency translation

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease), classified as other, of an asset representing the future economic benefits from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillOtherIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from adjustments after acquisition date under purchase accounting of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 16 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116868678&loc=d3e961-128460 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillRollForward
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_InformationTechnologyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=gd_MissionSystemsMember
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: |