General Dynamics Airplanes

McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics proposed the A-12 Avenger II attack aircraft. This machine aimed to replace the Grumman A-6 Intruder as an all-weather, carrier-based stealth bomber for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The Avenger II name came from the Grumman TBF Avenger of World War II. Cost overruns and delays troubled the A-12's development. These issues caused doubts about meeting goals. The program ended in 1991.

The General Dynamics/Grumman EF-111A Raven was an electronic warfare aircraft. It replaced the B-66 Destroyer for the U.S. Air Force. Crews and maintainers called it the "Spark-Vark," referencing the F-111's "Aardvark" nickname. The USAF contracted Grumman in 1974 to convert some General Dynamics F-111As into electronic warfare/electronic countermeasures aircraft. The USAF considered the Navy/Marine Corps Grumman EA-6B Prowler but avoided a Navy aircraft. The EF-111 began service in 1983. It retired in 1998.

The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was a supersonic, medium-range interdictor. It also served as a tactical Attack aircraft, strategic bomber, aerial reconnaissance, and electronic-warfare aircraft in different versions. General Dynamics developed it in the 1960s. The U.S. Air Force first used it in 1967. The Royal Australian Air Force ordered the type and started operating F-111Cs in 1973. The F-111 introduced technologies like variable-sweep wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and automated terrain-following radar.

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter. General Dynamics developed it for the U.S. Air Force. It started as an air superiority day fighter and grew into an all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production started in 1976. The U.S. Air Force no longer buys it, but improved versions are still built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which became part of Lockheed Martin.

The General Dynamics F-16XL is a F-16 Fighting Falcon derivative. It features a cranked-arrow delta wing. The design first served as a technology demonstrator. The U.S. Air Force entered the Enhanced Tactical Fighter competition but lost to the F-15E Strike Eagle. NASA took the prototypes for more aeronautical research years after they were shelved.