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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2004</B>


<div align="right" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B>
</div>

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<P align=center><img src="w97839logo.gif">




<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>&nbsp;</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B><HR size="1" noshade width="25%" align="center"></B>
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 18pt"><B>Form&nbsp;S-8</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>

<div align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B><HR size="1" noshade width="25%" align="center"></B>
</div>

<P align="center"><B>GENERAL DYNAMICS
CORPORATION</B><HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 width=50%>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><I>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</I></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">

<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B><HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 width=60%>
<I>(State or Other Jurisdiction of<BR>
Incorporation or Organization)</I>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Issuer:
13-1673581</B><HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 width=60%>
<I>(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</I></TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><HR size="1" noshade width="25%" align="center">


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>2941 Fairview Park Drive<BR>
Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513</B><BR>
<I>(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)</I>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><HR size="1" noshade width="25%" align="center">



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>General Dynamics Corporation<BR>
Equity Compensation Plan</B><HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 width=40%>
<div style="font-size: 10pt" align=center><I>(Full Title of the Plan)</I></div>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>David A. Savner,
Esq.</B><br>

<B>Senior Vice President and General Counsel<BR>
General Dynamics Corporation<BR>
2941 Fairview Park Drive<BR>
Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513</B><HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 width=50%>
<div style="font-size: 10pt" align=center><I>(Name And Address Of Agent For Service)</I></div>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Telephone:
(703)&nbsp;876-3000</B><HR NOSHADE SIZE=1 width=60%>
<div style="font-size: 10pt" align=center><I>(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent
for Service)</I></div>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="25%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="11%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed Maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of Securities</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount To Be</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Offering Price</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Aggregate Offering</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>to Be Registered</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Registered (1)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Per Share (2)</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Price</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Registration Fee (2)</B></TD>
</TR>

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<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="15" valign="top" align="left"><HR size="1" noshade>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">18,000,000<BR>
shares
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">$</TD>
        <TD nowrap valign="top">94.095</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">$</TD>
        <TD nowrap valign="top">1,693,710,000 </TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">$</TD>
        <TD nowrap valign="top">214,593.06</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD colspan="15" valign="top" align="left"><HR size="1" noshade>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Includes an indeterminate number of additional shares of the Registrant&#146;s common stock, $1.00 par value
per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), that may be issued to adjust the number of shares issued pursuant to the
plan described herein as a result of any future stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the
Registrant&#146;s outstanding Common Stock.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the proposed maximum aggregate
offering price and the registration fee are based on the average of the high and low prices per share of
the Registrant&#146;s Common Stock reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on May 25, 2004.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>


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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>PART I</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS</B>



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="99%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap><B>Item&nbsp;1.</B>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Plan Information</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The documents containing information specified in Part&nbsp;I of Form S-8 will
be sent or given to participants under the General Dynamics Corporation Equity
Compensation Plan (the &#147;Plan&#148;) as specified by Rule&nbsp;428(b)(1) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;). Such documents are not
required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the &#147;Commission&#148;) either as part of this registration statement or as
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424. Those documents
and the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement,
taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section
10(a) of the Securities Act.


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="99%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap><B>Item&nbsp;2.</B>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Upon written or oral request, any of the documents incorporated by
reference in Item&nbsp;3 of Part&nbsp;II of this registration statement (which documents
are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus), other documents
required to be delivered to eligible employees pursuant to Rule 428(b) or
additional information about the Plan are available without charge by
contacting:


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">General Dynamics Corporation<BR>
Corporate Secretary<BR>
2941 Fairview Park Drive<BR>
Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513<BR>
(703)&nbsp;876-3000



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>PART II<BR>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="99%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap><B>Item&nbsp;3.</B>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Incorporation of Documents By Reference</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents filed by General Dynamics Corporation (the
&#147;Corporation&#148;) with the Commission pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), are hereby incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement:


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">&#149;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2003.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">&#149;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April&nbsp;4, 2004.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">&#149;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January&nbsp;21, 2004.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">&#149;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April&nbsp;21, 2004.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">&#149;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of the Common Stock of the Corporation which is
contained in the Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-4 (No.&nbsp;333-80213).</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to the foregoing, all documents subsequently filed by (i)&nbsp;the
Corporation or (ii)&nbsp;the Plan, pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that
indicates that all securities registered hereunder have been issued or that
deregisters all securities offered then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement, including
financial statements, contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>ITEM 4. Description of Securities</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>ITEM 5. Interests of Named Experts And Counsel</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>ITEM 6. Indemnification of Directors And Officers</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145 (&#147;Section&nbsp;145&#148;) of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as may be amended from time to time (the &#147;General Corporation Law&#148;),
provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any of its directors or
officers who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
third party proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the
corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or
officer of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that
such person&#146;s conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, (i.e., one by or in
the right of a corporation) the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors
and officers against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an
action or suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation,
except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been
adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the
court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application
that the defendant directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Expenses, including attorneys&#146; fees, incurred by any such person in
defending any such action, suit or proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by it of an undertaking of such person to repay such
expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled
to be indemnified by the corporation.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by
him or her in any such capacity, arising out of his or her status as such,
whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him
or her under Section&nbsp;145.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Corporation&#146;s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that it
will indemnify its current and former directors and officers from and against
all liabilities and reasonable expenses that they incur in connection with or
resulting from any claims, actions, suits or proceedings to the extent that
indemnification is not inconsistent with Delaware law. The Corporation also
provides directors&#146; and officers&#146; liability insurance coverage for the acts and
omissions of its directors and officers. In order to be entitled to
indemnification under the provisions of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, a director or officer of the Corporation must be wholly
successful with respect to the claim, action, suit or proceeding or have acted
in good faith in what he or she reasonably believed to be the best interests of
the Corporation, or with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, must have
had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Prior
to the final disposition of a claim, action, suit or proceeding, the
Corporation will advance expenses incurred by a current or former director or
officer if the director or officer provides the Corporation with an undertaking
to repay the amount advanced if he or she is not entitled to indemnification
after the final disposition.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Corporation&#146;s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the
Corporation&#146;s directors will not be personally liable to the Corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary
duties as directors except (a)&nbsp;for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the
Corporation or its stockholders, (b)&nbsp;for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c)&nbsp;under
Section&nbsp;174 of the General Corporation Law, which makes directors liable for
unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or (d)&nbsp;for
transactions from which directors derive improper personal benefit. While this
provision provides directors with protection from awards for monetary damages
for breaches of their duty of care, it does not eliminate that duty.


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="99%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap><B>Item&nbsp;7.</B>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Exemption From Registration Claimed</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="99%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap><B>Item&nbsp;8.</B>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Exhibits</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #eeeeee">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective August&nbsp;2, 1999, and
Certificate of Amendment thereto (incorporated by reference from the
Corporation&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed on August&nbsp;11, 1999 and
the Corporation&#146;s Quarterly Report on <br>Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly
period ended March&nbsp;31, 2002 filed on May&nbsp;15, 2002, respectively)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD  align="right" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective June&nbsp;5, 2002 (incorporated by
reference from the Corporation&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for
the quarterly period ended September&nbsp;29, 2002 filed on November&nbsp;12,
2002)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #eeeeee">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">General Dynamics Corporation Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated
by reference from the Corporation&#146;s definitive proxy statement on
Schedule&nbsp;14A filed on March&nbsp;19, 2004)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Jenner &#038; Block LLP</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #eeeeee">
    <TD  align="right" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
        <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Independent Registered Public
          Accounting Firm</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="right"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Jenner &#038; Block LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1 hereto)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="background: #eeeeee">
    <TD  align="right" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney of the members of the Board of Directors</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="99%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap><B>Item&nbsp;9.</B>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Undertakings</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>A.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Subsequent Disclosure</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(i)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(ii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume
of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities
offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,
the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20
percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
in the &#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective
registration statement; and</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="10%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(iii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information
in this Registration Statement;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><I>&nbsp;</I></TD>
    <TD width="1%"><I>&nbsp;</I></TD>
    <TD><I>provided, however</I>, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i)&nbsp;and
(ii)&nbsp;above do not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant,
pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>B.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Incorporation By Reference</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#146;s
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
<I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><B>C.</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Commission Position On Indemnification</B></TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center">


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Falls Church, Commonwealth of
Virginia, on this 2nd day of June, 2004.

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3">GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">David A. Savner&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">Senior Vice President and General
Counsel&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on June 2, 2004.

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Signature</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<tr><TD>&nbsp;</TD></tr>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Nicholas D. Chabraja</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director<br>
(Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ MICHAEL J. MANCUSO<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Michael J. Mancuso</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<BR>
(Principal Financial Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">/s/ JOHN W. SCHWARTZ<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
John W. Schwartz</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Vice President and Controller<br>
(Principal Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
James S. Crown</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Lester Crown</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
William P. Fricks</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Charles H. Goodman</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Jay L. Johnson</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
George A. Joulwan</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Paul G. Kaminski</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
John M. Keane</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="45%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Lester L. Lyles</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Carl E. Mundy, Jr.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="center" nowrap valign="top">*<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade>
Robert Walmsley</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" nowrap align="left">* By David A. Savner pursuant to a Power of Attorney executed by the directors
listed above, which Power of Attorney has been filed as an<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;exhibit hereto
and incorporated herein by reference thereto.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="25%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="71%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">By:
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">David A. Savner</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="75%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="23">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="76%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit No.</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
   </TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective August&nbsp;2,
1999, and Certificate of Amendment thereto (incorporated by
reference from the Corporation&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K
filed on August&nbsp;11, 1999 and the Corporation&#146;s Quarterly
Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended March&nbsp;31,
2002 filed on May&nbsp;14, 2002, respectively)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;&nbsp;4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective June&nbsp;5, 2002
(incorporated by reference from the Corporation&#146;s Quarterly
Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarterly period ended September
29, 2002 filed on November&nbsp;12, 2002)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">

<TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;&nbsp;4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">General Dynamics Corporation Equity Compensation Plan
(incorporated by reference from the Corporation&#146;s definitive
proxy statement on Schedule&nbsp;14A filed on March&nbsp;19, 2004)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Jenner &#038; Block LLP</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Jenner &#038; Block LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1 hereto)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney of the members of the Board of Directors</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "w97839sv8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 44516}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP", "cik": "0000040533", "assigned-sic": "3730", "irs-number": "131673581", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-116071", "film-number": "04842804"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3190 FAIRVIEW PARK DRIVE", "city": "FALLS CHURCH", "state": "VA", "zip": "22042", "phone": "7038763000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3190 FAIRVIEW PARK DR", "city": "FALLS CHURCH", "state": "VA", "zip": "22042"}}
sv8
As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2004
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
GENERAL DYNAMICS
CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
Issuer:
13-1673581
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2941 Fairview Park Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
General Dynamics Corporation
Equity Compensation Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
David A. Savner,
Esq.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
General Dynamics Corporation
2941 Fairview Park Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513
(Name And Address Of Agent For Service)
Telephone:
(703) 876-3000
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent
for Service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Maximum
Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities
Amount To Be
Offering Price
Aggregate Offering
Amount of
to Be Registered
Registered (1)
Per Share (2)
Price
Registration Fee (2)
Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share
18,000,000
shares
$
94.095
$
1,693,710,000
$
214,593.06
(1)
Includes an indeterminate number of additional shares of the Registrant's common stock, $1.00 par value
per share (the "Common Stock"), that may be issued to adjust the number of shares issued pursuant to the
plan described herein as a result of any future stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the
Registrant's outstanding Common Stock.
(2)
Pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the proposed maximum aggregate
offering price and the registration fee are based on the average of the high and low prices per share of
the Registrant's Common Stock reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on May 25, 2004.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
Item 1.
Plan Information
The documents containing information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will
be sent or given to participants under the General Dynamics Corporation Equity
Compensation Plan (the "Plan") as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Such documents are not
required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") either as part of this registration statement or as
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. Those documents
and the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement,
taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section
10(a) of the Securities Act.
Item 2.
Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information
Upon written or oral request, any of the documents incorporated by
reference in Item 3 of Part II of this registration statement (which documents
are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus), other documents
required to be delivered to eligible employees pursuant to Rule 428(b) or
additional information about the Plan are available without charge by
contacting:
General Dynamics Corporation
Corporate Secretary
2941 Fairview Park Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513
(703) 876-3000
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents By Reference
The following documents filed by General Dynamics Corporation (the
"Corporation") with the Commission pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are hereby incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement:
•
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
•
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 4, 2004.
•
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2004.
•
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 21, 2004.
•
The description of the Common Stock of the Corporation which is
contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-80213).
In addition to the foregoing, all documents subsequently filed by (i) the
Corporation or (ii) the Plan, pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that
indicates that all securities registered hereunder have been issued or that
deregisters all securities offered then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement, including
financial statements, contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
ITEM 4. Description of Securities
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. Interests of Named Experts And Counsel
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. Indemnification of Directors And Officers
Section 145 ("Section 145") of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as may be amended from time to time (the "General Corporation Law"),
provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any of its directors or
officers who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any
third party proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the
corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or
officer of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that
such person's conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, (i.e., one by or in
the right of a corporation) the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors
and officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an
action or suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation,
except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been
adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the
court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application
that the defendant directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.
Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by any such person in
defending any such action, suit or proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by it of an undertaking of such person to repay such
expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled
to be indemnified by the corporation.
Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by
him or her in any such capacity, arising out of his or her status as such,
whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him
or her under Section 145.
The Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that it
will indemnify its current and former directors and officers from and against
all liabilities and reasonable expenses that they incur in connection with or
resulting from any claims, actions, suits or proceedings to the extent that
indemnification is not inconsistent with Delaware law. The Corporation also
provides directors' and officers' liability insurance coverage for the acts and
omissions of its directors and officers. In order to be entitled to
indemnification under the provisions of the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, a director or officer of the Corporation must be wholly
successful with respect to the claim, action, suit or proceeding or have acted
in good faith in what he or she reasonably believed to be the best interests of
the Corporation, or with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, must have
had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Prior
to the final disposition of a claim, action, suit or proceeding, the
Corporation will advance expenses incurred by a current or former director or
officer if the director or officer provides the Corporation with an undertaking
to repay the amount advanced if he or she is not entitled to indemnification
after the final disposition.
The Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the
Corporation's directors will not be personally liable to the Corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary
duties as directors except (a) for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the
Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under
Section 174 of the General Corporation Law, which makes directors liable for
unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or (d) for
transactions from which directors derive improper personal benefit. While this
provision provides directors with protection from awards for monetary damages
for breaches of their duty of care, it does not eliminate that duty.
Item 7.
Exemption From Registration Claimed
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
4.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective August 2, 1999, and
Certificate of Amendment thereto (incorporated by reference from the
Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 11, 1999 and
the Corporation's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended March 31, 2002 filed on May 15, 2002, respectively)
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective June 5, 2002 (incorporated by
reference from the Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarterly period ended September 29, 2002 filed on November 12,
2002)
4.3
General Dynamics Corporation Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated
by reference from the Corporation's definitive proxy statement on
Schedule 14A filed on March 19, 2004)
5.1
Opinion of Jenner & Block LLP
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public
          Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Jenner & Block LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
24.1
Power of Attorney of the members of the Board of Directors
Item 9.
Undertakings
A.
Subsequent Disclosure
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement;
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in this Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume
of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities
offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,
the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20
percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information
in this Registration Statement;
provided, however
, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i) and
(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant,
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
B.
Incorporation By Reference
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
C.
Commission Position On Indemnification
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Falls Church, Commonwealth of
Virginia, on this 2nd day of June, 2004.
GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION
By:
/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER
David A. Savner
Senior Vice President and General
Counsel
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on June 2, 2004.
Signature
Title
/s/ NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA
Nicholas D. Chabraja
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ MICHAEL J. MANCUSO
Michael J. Mancuso
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ JOHN W. SCHWARTZ
John W. Schwartz
Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
*
James S. Crown
Director
*
Lester Crown
Director
*
William P. Fricks
Director
*
Charles H. Goodman
Director
*
Jay L. Johnson
Director
*
George A. Joulwan
Director
*
Paul G. Kaminski
Director
*
John M. Keane
Director
*
Lester L. Lyles
Director
*
Carl E. Mundy, Jr.
Director
*
Robert Walmsley
Director
* By David A. Savner pursuant to a Power of Attorney executed by the directors
listed above, which Power of Attorney has been filed as an
exhibit hereto
and incorporated herein by reference thereto.
By:
/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER
David A. Savner
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
4.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective August 2,
1999, and Certificate of Amendment thereto (incorporated by
reference from the Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on August 11, 1999 and the Corporation's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31,
2002 filed on May 14, 2002, respectively)
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective June 5, 2002
(incorporated by reference from the Corporation's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September
29, 2002 filed on November 12, 2002)
4.3
General Dynamics Corporation Equity Compensation Plan
(incorporated by reference from the Corporation's definitive
proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 19, 2004)
5.1
Opinion of Jenner & Block LLP
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Jenner & Block LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
24.1
Power of Attorney of the members of the Board of Directors