1.0.0.3 false Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions 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 false 2 $ 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 false 3 $ 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 3 Operating activities: 1 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 4 Net income 2 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 911000000 911 false false 2 true true 949000000 949 false false 3 true true 754000000 754 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 5 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 2 us-gaap_Depreciation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 158000000 158 false false 2 false true 152000000 152 false false 3 false true 150000000 150 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 6 Amortization of intangibles and other assets 2 us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 60000000 60 false false 2 false true 54000000 54 false false 3 false true 57000000 57 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Deferred income tax provision 2 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 74000000 74 false false 2 false true 153000000 153 false false 3 false true 106000000 106 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Stock-based employee compensation expense 2 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 74000000 74 false false 2 false true 64000000 64 false false 3 false true 53000000 53 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Contributions to employee savings plans in L-3 Holdings' common stock 2 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitContributions us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 139000000 139 false false 2 false true 141000000 141 false false 3 false true 125000000 125 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Amortization of pension and postretirement benefit plans net loss and prior service cost 2 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 52000000 52 false false 2 false true 5000000 5 false false 3 false true 12000000 12 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Amortization of bond discounts (included in interest expense) 2 us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 23000000 23 false false 2 false true 21000000 21 false false 3 false true 20000000 20 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Amortization of deferred debt issue costs (included in interest expense) 2 us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 11000000 11 false false 2 false true 11000000 11 false false 3 false true 10000000 10 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Gain on sale of a business 2 us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -20000000 -20 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Impairment charge 2 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 28000000 28 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Gain on sale of a product line 2 lll_GainLossOnSaleOfProductLine lll false credit duration monetary The gains and losses included in earning resulting from the sale of a product line. This element refers to the gain (loss). false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -12000000 -12 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false The gains and losses included in earning resulting from the sale of a product line. This element refers to the gain (loss). No authoritative reference available. false 16 Other non-cash items 2 us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -3000000 -3 false false 2 false true -6000000 -6 false false 3 false true -4000000 -4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 17 Subtotal 2 us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1499000000 1499 false false 2 false true 1540000000 1540 false false 3 false true 1283000000 1283 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 18 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding acquired and divested amounts: 2 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 19 Billed receivables 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 107000000 107 false false 2 false true 49000000 49 false false 3 false true -51000000 -51 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Contracts in process 3 lll_ContractsInProcessOperatingActivities lll false credit duration monetary Inventoried contract costs, Unbilled receivables, and unliquidated progress payments. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -79000000 -79 false false 2 false true -162000000 -162 false false 3 false true -188000000 -188 false false Inventoried contract costs, Unbilled receivables, and unliquidated progress payments. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Inventories 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 14000000 14 false false 2 false true -25000000 -25 false false 3 false true 4000000 4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Accounts payable, trade 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -118000000 -118 false false 2 false true 31000000 31 false false 3 false true 90000000 90 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Accrued employment costs 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -59000000 -59 false false 2 false true 66000000 66 false false 3 false true 51000000 51 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Accrued expenses 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -39000000 -39 false false 2 false true 81000000 81 false false 3 false true 65000000 65 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Advance payments and billings in excess of costs incurred 3 lll_AdvancePaymentsBillingsInExcessCostsIncurred lll false debit duration monetary The current portion, due within one year or one operating cycle, if longer, of aggregate prepayments received from customers... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -15000000 -15 false false 2 false true 101000000 101 false false 3 false true -2000000 -2 false false The current portion, due within one year or one operating cycle, if longer, of aggregate prepayments received from customers for goods or services to be provided in the future, as well as the current portion of money or property received from customers that are to be returned upon satisfactory contract completion or as partial prepayment for goods or services to be provided in the future and also includes liabilities due to billings on long term contracts that exceed the income recorded under the percentage of completion contract accounting method, or that exceed the accumulated costs under the completed contract accounting method. No authoritative reference available. false 26 Income taxes 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 27000000 27 false false 2 false true -2000000 -2 false false 3 false true 116000000 116 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Excess income tax benefits related to share-based payment arrangements 3 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationOperatingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4000000 -4 false false 2 false true -10000000 -10 false false 3 false true -17000000 -17 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Other current liabilities 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 9000000 9 false false 2 false true -128000000 -128 false false 3 false true -9000000 -9 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Pension and postretirement benefits 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPensionAndPostretirementObligations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 43000000 43 false false 2 false true -81000000 -81 false false 3 false true -10000000 -10 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 All other operating activities 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 22000000 22 false false 2 false true -73000000 -73 false false 3 false true -62000000 -62 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 31 Subtotal 3 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapital us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -92000000 -92 false false 2 false true -153000000 -153 false false 3 false true -13000000 -13 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 32 Net cash from operating activities 2 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1407000000 1407 false false 2 false true 1387000000 1387 false false 3 false true 1270000000 1270 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 33 Investing activities: 1 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 34 Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired 2 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -90000000 -90 false false 2 false true -283000000 -283 false false 3 false true -235000000 -235 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Proceeds from sale of a business and product lines 2 us-gaap_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesAndInterestsInAffiliates us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 63000000 63 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Capital expenditures 2 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -186000000 -186 false false 2 false true -218000000 -218 false false 3 false true -157000000 -157 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 37 Dispositions of property, plant and equipment 2 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4000000 4 false false 2 false true 15000000 15 false false 3 false true 8000000 8 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 38 Other investing activities 2 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -9000000 -9 false false 3 false true -4000000 -4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 39 Net cash used in investing activities 2 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -272000000 -272 false false 2 false true -432000000 -432 false false 3 false true -388000000 -388 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 40 Financing activities: 1 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 41 Proceeds from sale of senior notes 2 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 996000000 996 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 42 Repayment of borrowings under term loan facility 2 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSubordinatedDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -650000000 -650 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 43 Redemption of senior subordinated notes 2 us-gaap_EarlyRepaymentOfSubordinatedDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -750000000 -750 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Common stock repurchased 2 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -505000000 -505 false false 2 false true -794000000 -794 false false 3 false true -500000000 -500 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 45 Cash dividends paid on L-3 Holdings' common stock 2 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -165000000 -165 false false 2 false true -147000000 -147 false false 3 false true -126000000 -126 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 46 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 2 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 24000000 24 false false 2 false true 40000000 40 false false 3 false true 89000000 89 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 47 Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 2 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockPlans us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 70000000 70 false false 2 false true 69000000 69 false false 3 false true 65000000 65 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 48 Debt issue costs 2 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -22000000 -22 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 49 Excess income tax benefits related to share-based payment arrangements 2 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4000000 4 false false 2 false true 10000000 10 false false 3 false true 17000000 17 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 50 Other financing activities 2 us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -7000000 -7 false false 2 false true -18000000 -18 false false 3 false true -9000000 -9 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 51 Net cash used in financing activities 2 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1005000000 -1005 false false 2 false true -840000000 -840 false false 3 false true -464000000 -464 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 52 Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 1 us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 19000000 19 false false 2 false true -28000000 -28 false false 3 false true 14000000 14 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 53 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 1 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 149000000 149 false false 2 false true 87000000 87 false false 3 false true 432000000 432 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 54 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year 1 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 867000000 867 false false 2 false true 780000000 780 false false 3 false true 348000000 348 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 55 Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year 1 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 true true 1016000000 1016 false false 2 true true 867000000 867 false false 3 true true 780000000 780 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 3 53 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true