Press Release

General Dynamics Reports Strong Earnings, Backlog Growth in Second Quarter 2008

- EPS from continuing operations increases 26 percent

- Sales, earnings and operating margins increase company-wide

- Full-year EPS guidance increased

FALLS CHURCH, Va., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported second-quarter 2008 earnings from continuing operations of $641 million, or $1.60 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared with 2007 second-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $518 million, or $1.27 per share fully diluted. Revenues grew to $7.3 billion in the quarter, a 10.8 percent increase over second-quarter 2007 revenues of $6.6 billion. Net earnings were equal to earnings from continuing operations of $641 million.

Cash

Net cash provided by operating activities in the quarter totaled $1 billion. Free cash flow from operations, defined as net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less capital expenditures, was $910 million for the period, or 142 percent of net earnings.

For the first half of 2008, net cash provided by operating activities was $1.5 billion, while free cash flow from operations was $1.3 billion.

Margins

Company-wide operating margins for the second quarter of 2008 increased 110 basis points over the second quarter of 2007, to 12.6 percent.

Backlog

The company's funded backlog grew by approximately $5.2 billion or 12.9 percent in the second quarter of 2008, on strong orders for new aircraft in the Aerospace group, as well as demand for tanks, combat vehicles, tactical communications systems and information technology services. Compared to first- quarter 2008, company-wide total backlog grew by 11.2 percent.

Taxes

The company's 2008 second-quarter financial results include a $35 million benefit from the favorable settlement of a tax-refund suit; this factor increased earnings by approximately 9 cents per share in the quarter.

Operational Highlights

Sales, earnings and operating margins increased in all four General Dynamics business groups in the second quarter. The Combat Systems group experienced increased sales in its armored vehicle and tank programs compared to the year-ago period and significant margin growth. New-aircraft volume in the Aerospace group, increased shipbuilding activity in Marine Systems and continued strong demand for tactical communications and computing systems in the Information Systems and Technology sector also contributed to the overall strong performance.

"General Dynamics' performance continued to be strong in the second quarter of 2008," said Nicholas D. Chabraja, chairman and chief executive officer. "Sales, earnings and operating margins increased in all four business segments compared to the year-ago period, cash generation was exceptionally strong and the robust backlog suggests continued healthy demand for the products and services of each business area.

"Growth in the Aerospace backlog is a reflection of continued demand for the entire existing product line and extremely strong demand for the new Gulfstream G650. We are very pleased to see this interest in the new plane and view that as an indicator of Gulfstream's ability to anticipate and exceed its customers' product expectations.

"On the basis of these results and a clearer sense of what the remainder of 2008 will bring, we expect full-year 2008 earnings from continuing operations to be in the range of $6.00 to $6.05 per share, fully diluted," Chabraja said.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 84,600 people worldwide and reported $27.2 billion in revenue in 2007. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and mission-critical information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.

Certain statements made in this press release, including any statements as to future results of operations and financial projections, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. Additional information regarding these factors is contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.

WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics will webcast its second-quarter securities analyst conference call, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. The webcast will be a listen-only audio event, available at www.generaldynamics.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available by 3 p.m. July 23 and will continue for 12 months. To hear a recording of the conference call by telephone, please call 888-286-8010 (international: 617-801-6888); passcode 16780091. The phone replay will be available from 3 p.m. July 23 until midnight July 30, 2008.



                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
                DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS


                                           Second Quarter      Variance
                                           2008     2007      $        %

    NET SALES                              $7,303   $6,591    $712   10.8%
    OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES            6,382    5,831    (551)

    OPERATING EARNINGS                        921      760     161   21.2%

    Interest, Net                             (12)     (21)      9
    Other, Net                                  -        1      (1)

    EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
      BEFORE INCOME TAXES                     909      740     169   22.8%

    Provision for Income Taxes                268      222     (46)

    EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS      $641     $518    $123   23.7%

    Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax         -       (5)      5

    NET EARNINGS                             $641     $513    $128   25.0%

    EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC
        Continuing Operations               $1.61    $1.28   $0.33   25.8%
        Discontinued Operations              $-     $(0.01)  $0.01
        Net Earnings                        $1.61    $1.27   $0.34   26.8%

    BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE
      SHARES OUTSTANDING (IN MILLIONS)      398.5    405.1

    EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED
        Continuing Operations               $1.60    $1.27   $0.33   26.0%
        Discontinued Operations              $-     $(0.01)  $0.01
        Net Earnings                        $1.60    $1.26   $0.34   27.0%

    DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE
      SHARES OUTSTANDING (IN MILLIONS)      401.8    408.9


                                  Exhibit A



                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED)
                DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS


                                             Six Months        Variance
                                           2008     2007      $       %

    NET SALES                             $14,308  $12,891  $1,417  11.0%
    OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES           12,526   11,450  (1,076)

    OPERATING EARNINGS                      1,782    1,441     341  23.7%

    Interest, Net                             (31)     (47)     16
    Other, Net                                  3        2       1

    EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
      BEFORE INCOME TAXES                   1,754    1,396     358  25.6%

    Provision for Income Taxes                540      438    (102)

    EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS    $1,214     $958    $256  26.7%

    Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax        (1)     (11)     10

    NET EARNINGS                           $1,213     $947    $266  28.1%

    EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC
        Continuing Operations               $3.04    $2.36   $0.68  28.8%
        Discontinued Operations              $-     $(0.03)  $0.03
        Net Earnings                        $3.04    $2.33   $0.71  30.5%

    BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE
      SHARES OUTSTANDING (IN MILLIONS)      399.6    405.4

    EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED
        Continuing Operations               $3.01    $2.34   $0.67  28.6%
        Discontinued Operations              $-     $(0.03)  $0.03
        Net Earnings                        $3.01    $2.31   $0.70  30.3%

    DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE
      SHARES OUTSTANDING (IN MILLIONS)      402.8    409.2


                                  Exhibit B



           NET SALES AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT (UNAUDITED)
                             DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

                                           Second Quarter      Variance
                                           2008     2007      $       %
    NET SALES:

    AEROSPACE                              $1,329   $1,208   $121    10.0%

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                          2,015    1,712    303    17.7%

    MARINE SYSTEMS                          1,394    1,272    122     9.6%

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
    TECHNOLOGY                              2,565    2,399    166     6.9%

    TOTAL                                  $7,303   $6,591   $712    10.8%

    OPERATING EARNINGS:

    AEROSPACE                                $240     $199    $41    20.6%

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                            282      191     91    47.6%

    MARINE SYSTEMS                            127      112     15    13.4%

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
    TECHNOLOGY                                292      269     23     8.6%

    CORPORATE                                 (20)     (11)    (9)  (81.8)%

    TOTAL                                    $921     $760   $161    21.2%

    OPERATING MARGINS:

    AEROSPACE                               18.1%    16.5%

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                          14.0%    11.2%

    MARINE SYSTEMS                           9.1%     8.8%

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
    TECHNOLOGY                              11.4%    11.2%

    TOTAL                                   12.6%    11.5%


                                  Exhibit C



           NET SALES AND OPERATING EARNINGS BY SEGMENT (UNAUDITED)
                             DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

                                               Six Months        Variance
                                             2008     2007      $        %
    NET SALES:

    AEROSPACE                                $2,608   $2,302    $306   13.3%

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                            4,012    3,280     732   22.3%

    MARINE SYSTEMS                            2,772    2,529     243    9.6%

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
    TECHNOLOGY                                4,916    4,780     136    2.8%

    TOTAL                                   $14,308  $12,891  $1,417   11.0%

    OPERATING EARNINGS:

    AEROSPACE                                  $476     $372    $104   28.0%

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                              541      365     176   48.2%

    MARINE SYSTEMS                              249      210      39   18.6%

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
    TECHNOLOGY                                  552      519      33    6.4%

    CORPORATE                                   (36)     (25)    (11) (44.0)%

    TOTAL                                    $1,782   $1,441    $341   23.7%

    OPERATING MARGINS:

    AEROSPACE                                 18.3%    16.2%

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                            13.5%    11.1%

    MARINE SYSTEMS                             9.0%     8.3%

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
    TECHNOLOGY                                11.2%    10.9%

    TOTAL                                     12.5%    11.2%


                                  Exhibit D



              PRELIMINARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
                             DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

                                           June 29, 2008   December 31, 2007
    ASSETS
    Current Assets:
    Cash and equivalents                            $2,740            $2,891
    Accounts receivable                              2,962             2,874
    Contracts in process                             4,505             4,337
    Inventories                                      1,672             1,621
    Other current assets                               569               575
    Total Current Assets                            12,448            12,298

    Noncurrent Assets:
    Property, plant and equipment, net               2,546             2,472
    Intangible assets, net                             920               972
    Goodwill                                         8,986             8,942
    Other assets                                     1,189             1,049
    Total Noncurrent Assets                         13,641            13,435
    Total Assets                                   $26,089           $25,733
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
    Short-term debt and current portion
     of long-term debt                                $172              $673
    Accounts payable                                 2,115             2,318
    Customer advances and deposits                   3,776             3,440
    Other current liabilities                        2,643             2,733
    Total Current Liabilities                        8,706             9,164

    Noncurrent Liabilities:
    Long-term debt                                   2,117             2,118
    Other liabilities                                3,082             2,683
    Commitments and contingencies
    Total Noncurrent Liabilities                     5,199             4,801

    Shareholders' Equity:
    Common stock                                       482               482
    Surplus                                          1,255             1,141
    Retained earnings                               12,313            11,379
    Treasury stock                                  (2,545)           (1,881)
    Accumulated other comprehensive income             679               647
    Total Shareholders' Equity                      12,184            11,768
    Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity     $26,089           $25,733


                                  Exhibit E



         PRELIMINARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
                             DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

                                                   Six Months Ended
    Cash Flows from Operating Activities:   June 29, 2008      July 1, 2007
      Net earnings                                  $1,213              $947
      Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
       to net cash provided by operating
       activities:
        Depreciation                                   146               132
        Amortization                                    67                75
        Stock-based compensation expense                50                41
        Excess tax benefit from stock-based
         compensation                                  (24)              (26)
        Deferred income tax provision                   26                53
        Discontinued operations, net of tax              1                11
      (Increase) decrease in assets, net of
       effects of business acquisitions:
        Accounts receivable                            (83)             (186)
        Contracts in process                          (163)             (188)
        Inventories                                    (73)             (100)
      Increase (decrease) in liabilities,
       net of effects of business
       acquisitions:
        Accounts payable                              (207)             (159)
        Customer advances and deposits                 548               417
        Other current liabilities                      (27)              (54)
      Other, net                                       (18)              (36)
      Net Cash Provided by Operating
       Activities from Continuing
       Operations                                    1,456               927
      Net Cash Used by Discontinued
       Operations - Operating Activities                (5)               (8)
      Net Cash Provided by Operating
       Activities                                    1,451               919

    Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
      Purchases of available-for-sale securities    (1,247)              (48)
      Sales/maturities of available-for-
       sale securities                               1,186                42
      Capital expenditures                            (200)             (166)
      Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired      (66)             (299)
      Proceeds from sale of assets, net                 30                93
      Other, net                                         1                (1)
      Net Cash Used by Investing Activities           (296)             (379)

    Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
      Purchases of common stock                       (660)             (153)
      Repayment of fixed-rate notes                   (500)                -
      Dividends paid                                  (257)             (210)
      Proceeds from option exercises                    89               102
      Excess tax benefit from stock-based
       compensation                                     24                26
      Other, net                                        (2)             (115)
      Net Cash Used by Financing Activities         (1,306)             (350)

    Net (Decrease)/Increase in Cash and
     Equivalents                                      (151)              190
    Cash and Equivalents at Beginning of Period      2,891             1,604
    Cash and Equivalents at End of Period           $2,740            $1,794

                                  Exhibit F



                PRELIMINARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
          DOLLARS IN MILLIONS EXCEPT PER SHARE AND EMPLOYEE AMOUNTS

                                 Second Quarter        Second Quarter
                                      2008                  2007
    Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
    Free Cash Flow from Operations:
                                               Year-to-               Year-to-
    Net Cash Provided by             Quarter    date       Quarter      date
     Operating Activities from
     Continuing Operations              $1,025  $1,456          $405     $927
    Capital Expenditures                  (115)   (200)         (113)    (166)
      Free Cash Flow from
       Operations (A)                     $910  $1,256          $292     $761

    Return on Invested Capital:
    Earnings from Continuing
     Operations                         $2,336                $1,861
      After-Tax Interest Expense            93                   100
      After-Tax Amortization
       Expense                              94                   104
    Net Operating Profit after
     Taxes                               2,523                 2,065
    Average Debt and Equity             14,143                12,839
      Return on Invested Capital (B)     17.8%                 16.1%

    Other Financial Information:
    Return on Equity ( C )               20.4%                 19.0%

    Debt-to-Equity (D)                   18.8%                 26.3%

    Debt-to-Capital (E)                  15.8%                 20.8%

    Book Value per Share (F)            $30.66                $26.19

    Total Taxes Paid                      $475                  $339

    Company Sponsored
     Research and Development (G)         $124                   $95

    Employment                          84,600                82,900

    Sales Per Employee (H)            $342,900              $311,600

    Shares Outstanding             397,327,979           405,623,702


    (A)   The company's management believes free cash flow from operations is
          a measurement that is useful to investors, because it portrays the
          company's ability to generate cash from its core businesses for such
          purposes as repaying maturing debt, funding business acquisitions
          and paying dividends. The company uses free cash flow from
          operations to assess the quality of its earnings and as a
          performance measure in evaluating management. The most directly
          comparable GAAP measure to free cash flow from operations is net
          cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations.
    (B)   The company's management believes return on invested capital is a
          measurement that is useful to investors, because it reflects the
          company's ability to generate returns from the capital it has
          deployed in its operations. The company uses ROIC to evaluate
          investment decisions and as a performance measure in evaluating
          management. The company defines ROIC as net operating profit after
          taxes for the latest 12-month period divided by the sum of the
          average debt and shareholders' equity for the same period. Net
          operating profit after taxes is defined as earnings from continuing
          operations plus after-tax interest and amortization expense.  The
          most directly comparable GAAP measure to net operating profit after
          taxes is earnings from continuing operations.
    ( C ) Return on equity is calculated by dividing earnings from continuing
          operations for the latest 12-month period by the company's average
          equity during that period.
    (D)   Debt-to-equity ratio is calculated as total debt divided by total
          equity as of the end of the period.
    (E)   Debt-to-capital ratio is calculated as total debt divided by the sum
          of total debt plus total equity as of the end of the period.
    (F)   Book value per share is calculated as total equity divided by total
          outstanding shares as of the end of the period.
    (G)   Includes independent research and development and bid and proposal
          costs and Gulfstream product development costs.
    (H)   Sales per employee is calculated by dividing net sales for the
          latest 12-month period by the company's average number of employees
          during that period.


                                  Exhibit G



                             BACKLOG (UNAUDITED)
                             DOLLARS IN MILLIONS


                                                           Estimated  Total
                                                           Potential Estimated
                                                    Total   Contract Contract
    Second Quarter 2008           Funded  Unfunded Backlog   Value*    Value
    AEROSPACE                     $18,195     $634  $18,829   $2,309  $21,138

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                 10,611    3,263   13,874    2,610   16,484

    MARINE SYSTEMS                  8,899    3,239   12,138    2,167   14,305

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
     TECHNOLOGY                     7,531    2,950   10,481   10,348   20,829

    TOTAL                         $45,236  $10,086  $55,322  $17,434  $72,756


    First Quarter 2008
    AEROSPACE                     $11,802     $650  $12,452     $926  $13,378

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                 11,116    3,171   14,287    2,292   16,579

    MARINE SYSTEMS                  9,552    3,056   12,608    2,272   14,880

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
     TECHNOLOGY                     7,582    2,838   10,420    9,142   19,562

    TOTAL                         $40,052   $9,715  $49,767  $14,632  $64,399


    Second Quarter 2007
    AEROSPACE                      $9,427     $708  $10,135     $964  $11,099

    COMBAT SYSTEMS                 10,712    2,131   12,843    1,785   14,628

    MARINE SYSTEMS                  8,290    4,376   12,666      236   12,902

    INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
     TECHNOLOGY                     6,980    1,971    8,951    8,031   16,982

    TOTAL                         $35,409   $9,186  $44,595  $11,016  $55,611

* The estimated potential contract value represents management's estimate of the company's future contract value under indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options associated with existing firm contracts. Because the value in the IDIQ arrangements is subject to the customer's future exercise of an indeterminate quantity of delivery orders, the company recognizes these contracts in backlog only when they are funded. Unexercised options are recognized in backlog when the customer exercises the option and establishes a firm order.

                                  Exhibit H



              SECOND QUARTER 2008 SIGNIFICANT ORDERS (UNAUDITED)
                             DOLLARS IN MILLIONS

General Dynamics received the following significant contract orders during the second quarter of 2008:

Combat Systems

-- $139 from the Canadian government for Optimized Weapons Systems Support for the Wheeled Light Armoured Vehicle (WLAV). This contract has a potential value of approximately $370.

-- $116 from the U.S. Army for long-lead materials to reset 204 M1A1 Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) main battle tanks.

-- Combined orders worth $88 from the Army to continue performing contractor logistics support for the Stryker program.

-- $58 from the Army for long-lead materials for the production of Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle variants.



    Marine Systems

-- $132 from the U.S. Navy for Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) work for six Virginia-class submarines.

-- $100 from the Navy to purchase long-lead materials for the 12th T-AKE combat-logistics ship.

Information Systems and Technology

-- $116 to build the spacecraft for NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission.

-- Combined orders totaling $115 under the Common Hardware/Software III program, bringing the total contract value to approximately $1.3 billion.

-- $114 to develop and integrate the maritime and fixed-site joint tactical radio capabilities and provide information assurance services for the Airborne, Maritime and Fixed Site (AMF) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). The contract has a potential value of over $150.

-- $77 to provide life-cycle contractor support and training support for the Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support (FOCUS) program. This contract has a potential value of approximately $2 billion.


                                  Exhibit I



                       AIRCRAFT DELIVERIES (UNAUDITED)

                                           Second Quarter      Six Months
                                           2008     2007     2008     2007
    GREEN (UNITS):
    LARGE AIRCRAFT                             22       20       44       39
    MID-SIZE AIRCRAFT                          17       16       32       27
    TOTAL                                      39       36       76       66

    COMPLETIONS (UNITS):
    LARGE AIRCRAFT                             24       20       44       40
    MID-SIZE AIRCRAFT                          16       16       32       26
    TOTAL                                      40       36       76       66

    PRE-OWNED:
    UNITS                                       1        3        2        5

    SALES (millions)                           $8      $22      $17      $43
    OPERATING EARNINGS (millions)              $1       $-       $2       $2

    AEROSPACE MARGINS EXCLUDING
    PRE-OWNED ACTIVITY                      18.1%    16.8%    18.3%    16.4%


                                  Exhibit J

SOURCE General Dynamics
07/23/2008
/CONTACT: Rob Doolittle, +1-703-876-3199, rdoolitt@generaldynamics.com /
/Web site: http://www.generaldynamics.com/