Defense conglomerate General Dynamics Corp. reported a 21 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday, thanks to revenue growth in all segments of its business.

The Falls Church, Va.-based parent of Maine’s Bath Iron Works reported earnings of $406 million, or $2.00 per share, in the final three months of 2005, compared to $336 million, or $1.66 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

The earnings beat the consensus estimate of Wall Street analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call, who predicted earnings of $1.97 a share. Quarterly sales increased 13 percent from $5.17 billion a year ago to $5.83 billion.