Post 200 The guide to the region's top businesses

A visitor takes a picture of a LAV Piranha II by General Dynamics Land Systems at Eurosatory 2010 in Villepinte near Paris. (Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images)

Public companies and financial services

General Dynamics

The defense contractor builds aircraft, ships and combat vehicles, among other kinds of weapons systems, and provides a wide range of information technology services. The company particularly built up its health information technology focus in 2011, acquiring Arlington-based Vangent, which specializes in health care services, for nearly $1 billion. General Dynamics also picked up Metro Machine, Fortress Technologies and Network Connectivity Solutions.

Trivia

In 2005, General Dynamic's Gulfstream unit became the first business-jet manufacturer to offer an in-flight, ultra-high-speed Internet connection.