Weapons maker General Dynamics expands tech lineup with $9.6 billion CSRA deal

General Dynamics, a shipbuilder for the U.S. military, is making itself one of the government’s largest information-technology contractors with the $9.6 billion purchase of cybersecurity specialist CSRA.

The deal positions the combined company to take advantage of higher military spending under President Trump, who signed a government funding bill last week that calls for defense funding to rise to $700 billion this year and $716 billion in 2019. A real estate mogul from New York, the chief executive has promised to increase support for the U.S. armed forces.