1.0.0.3 false Basis of Presentation false 1 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Basis of Presentation [Abstract] 0 lll_BasisOfPresentationAbstract lll false na duration string Basis of Presentation. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false Basis of Presentation. false 3 Basis of Presentation 1 lll_BasisOfPresentationTextBlock lll false na duration string Reference to read this document in conjunction with the latest Annual Report, description containing reference to new... false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0   <div style="margin-left: 0%"> <div style="margin-top: 12pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff; text-align: left"> <tr> <td width="4%"></td> <td width="96%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">2. </font></b> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Basis of Presentation</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarterly period and <font style="white-space: nowrap">year-to-date</font> period ended September 25, 2009 should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications included in their Annual Report on <font style="white-space: nowrap">Form 10-K</font> for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The Company adopted eight new accounting standards during the <font style="white-space: nowrap">year-to-date</font> period ended September 25, 2009, six of which were effective January 1, 2009. In accordance with the transition and disclosure provisions of three of these standards, the Company retrospectively applied those provisions and adjusted the prior period financial statements accordingly. See Note 3 for the standards adopted and their impact to the Company’s financial position and results of operations. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The accompanying financial statements comprise the consolidated financial statements of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications. L-3 Holdings’ only asset is its investment in the common stock of L-3 Communications, its wholly-owned subsidiary, and its only obligations are: (1) the 3% Convertible Contingent Debt Securities (CODES) due 2035, which were issued by L-3 Holdings on July 29, 2005, (2) its guarantee of borrowings under the senior credit facility of L-3 Communications and (3) its guarantee of other contractual obligations of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries. L-3 Holdings’ obligations relating to the CODES have been jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by L-3 Communications and certain of its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. Accordingly, such debt has been reflected as debt of L-3 Communications in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 54. All issuances of and conversions into L-3 Holdings’ equity securities, including grants of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units by L-3 Holdings to employees and directors of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries, have been reflected in the consolidated financial statements of L-3 Communications. As a result, the consolidated financial positions, results of operations and cash flows of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications are substantially the same. See Note 22 for additional information regarding the unaudited financial information of L-3 Communications and its subsidiaries. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to <font style="white-space: nowrap">Form 10-Q</font> and Article 10 of <font style="white-space: nowrap">Regulation S-X</font> of the SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for a complete set of annual audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented have been included. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> Certain reclassifications have been made to conform prior year amounts to the current year presentation. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> It is the Company’s established practice to close its books for the quarters ending March, June and September on the Friday nearest to the end of the calendar quarter. The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared and are labeled based on that convention. The Company closes its annual books on December 31 regardless of what day it falls on. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of sales and costs of sales during the reporting period. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions relate to contract revenue, profit and loss recognition, fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, market values for inventories reported at lower of cost or market, pension and post-retirement benefit obligations, stock-based employee compensation expense, income taxes, including the valuations of deferred tax assets, litigation reserves and environmental obligations, accrued product warranty costs, and the recoverability, useful lives and valuation of recorded amounts of long-lived assets, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. Changes in estimates are reflected in the periods during which they become known. Actual amounts will differ from these estimates and could differ materially. For a more complete discussion of these estimates and assumptions, see the Annual Report of L-3 Holdings and L-3 Communications on <font style="white-space: nowrap">Form 10-K</font> for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt; font-size: 1pt">  </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; text-indent: 4%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> During the quarter ended March 27, 2009, the Company revised its reportable segment presentations to conform to certain re-alignments in the Company’s management and organization structure. Consequently, the Company made certain reclassifications between its C<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: top">3</sup>ISR, Government Services, and AM&M reportable segments. See Note 20 for the prior period amounts reclassified between reportable segments. </div>  </div>   <div style="margin-left: 0%">  <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"> </div> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 0%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica; color: #000000; background: #ffffff"> <b> <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times"> </font> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt; font-size: 1pt"> </div>  </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false Reference to read this document in conjunction with the latest Annual Report, description containing reference to new accounting pronouncements implemented, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statement disclosure in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reference to the segment reclassifications. Users are provided with an understanding of the significant judgments, estimates, and assumptions made by the Company. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true