General Dynamics
US defence giant building tanks, submarines, and Gulfstream jets; $47bn revenue.
Last refreshed: 5 April 2026
Can the Abrams-maker pivot fast enough for the drone-age battlefield?
Latest on General Dynamics
- What does General Dynamics make?
- General Dynamics makes Abrams tanks, Virginia-class nuclear submarines, Stryker vehicles, Gulfstream jets, and a wide range of defence electronics.Source: background
- What is General Dynamics' role in the Leonidas drone defence system?
- General Dynamics is the prime platform integrator for the Leonidas AGV, combining Epirus's microwave weapon with Kodiak Robotics' autonomous driving stack on a ruggedised vehicle chassis.Source: background
- How big is General Dynamics?
- General Dynamics reported $47.7 billion in revenue in 2023 and employs roughly 106,000 people globally.Source: quick_facts
- Who are General Dynamics' biggest rivals?
- Its main peers are Lockheed Martin, Raytheon (RTX), Northrop Grumman, and Boeing Defense.Source: background
- Does General Dynamics make autonomous military vehicles?
- Yes. In 2026 General Dynamics acted as prime integrator on the Leonidas AGV, an autonomous counter-drone ground vehicle developed with Epirus and Kodiak Robotics.Source: background
Background
General Dynamics surfaced in the counter-drone context when Epirus named it as the prime platform integrator for the Leonidas AGV, an autonomous ground vehicle pairing high-power microwave defeat with Kodiak Robotics' self-driving stack, unveiled at AUSA Global Force in March 2026. The role is characteristic of General Dynamics' position in US defence: it rarely owns the headline technology, but it provides the vetted, ruggedised platform that brings new systems into service at scale.
Founded in 1952 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, General Dynamics is one of the five largest US defence contractors by revenue, reporting $47.7 billion in 2023. Its four divisions span combat systems (Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles), mission systems (electronics, C4ISR), marine systems (nuclear submarines including Virginia-class), and its commercial aerospace unit, Gulfstream. The company employs roughly 106,000 people globally and holds multi-decade relationships with the US Army, Navy, and NATO allies.
General Dynamics' breadth makes it a reliable bellwether for US defence priorities. Its involvement in autonomous ground systems reflects the Army's push to field unmanned platforms ahead of a near-peer conflict scenario. As the Pentagon redirects funding from legacy platforms toward counter-drone and directed energy, General Dynamics is positioned to integrate both: its platform expertise bridges the gap between novel technology and production-ready hardware.
