Gulfstream Aerospace delivered a first-quarter record 38 aircraft in Q1 2026 as parent company General Dynamics reported higher aerospace revenue, earnings and backlog to start the year.
General Dynamics said on April 29, 2026, that its Aerospace segment, which includes Gulfstream, generated $3.28 billion in revenue during the quarter, up 8.4% from $3.03 billion a year earlier.
The segment’s operating earnings rose 14.1% to $493 million, compared with $432 million in the first quarter of 2025. Aerospace operating margin improved to 15.0%, up from 14.3% a year earlier.
Gulfstream delivered 31 large-cabin aircraft and seven midsize aircraft during the quarter. That compared with 30 large-cabin aircraft and six midsize aircraft in the same period last year.
The 38 aircraft total marked Gulfstream’s highest first-quarter delivery figure ever. The increase was modest year over year, with two more aircraft handed over than in Q1 2025, but the quarter showed continued momentum for Gulfstream as production and deliveries of its large-cabin jets continue to grow.
The results come as Gulfstream handles demand for its newest long-range aircraft, including the G700 and G800. The G700 entered service in 2024 after receiving FAA type certification, while the G800 received FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification in April 2025.
General Dynamics said its aerospace unit booked $3.84 billion in orders during the quarter, up from $2.36 billion a year earlier. The aerospace unit ended the quarter with $22.27 billion in backlog, compared with $19.0 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2025.
The larger backlog gives Gulfstream and the broader aviation services business a strong base of future work heading into the rest of 2026. Aerospace backlog was also up from $21.83 billion at the end of 2025.
Companywide, General Dynamics reported first-quarter revenue of $13.5 billion, up 10.3% from the year-ago period. Operating earnings rose 12% to $1.42 billion, while diluted earnings per share rose 12% to $4.10.
“Our businesses had a very good start to the year, delivering strong operating results and excellent cash conversion,” General Dynamics Chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic said. “We are positioned well to drive additional performance throughout the year.”
General Dynamics also reported $26.6 billion in orders across the company during the quarter. Total company backlog reached $130.8 billion at quarter-end.
