1.0.0.3 false Description of Business 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 Description of Business [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_GeneralPoliciesAbstract 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 No definition available. false 3 Description of Business 1 us-gaap_NatureOfOperations us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0   <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: 9pt; 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="3%"></td> <td width="97%"></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">1.  </font></b> </td> <td> <b><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times">Description of Business</font></b> </td> </tr> </table> <div style="margin-top: 9pt; 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"> L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. derives all of its operating income and cash flows from its wholly-owned subsidiary, L-3 Communications Corporation (L-3 Communications). L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. <font style="white-space: nowrap">(L-3 Holdings</font> and, together with its subsidiaries, referred to herein as L-3 or the Company) is a prime system contractor in aircraft modernization and maintenance, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: top">3</sup>ISR) systems, and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of high technology products, subsystems and systems. The Company’s customers include the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) and its prime contractors, U.S. Government intelligence agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of State (DoS), U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), allied foreign governments, domestic and foreign commercial customers and select other U.S. federal, state and local government agencies. </div> <div style="margin-top: 9pt; 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 has the following four reportable segments: (1) C<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: top">3</sup>ISR, (2) Government Services, (3) Aircraft Modernization and Maintenance (AM&M), and (4) Electronic Systems (previously named Specialized Products). During the 2009 fourth quarter, the Company renamed the Specialized Products reportable segment Electronic Systems to better describe the nature of the segment’s businesses. Financial information with respect to each of the Company’s reportable segments is included in Note 22. C<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: top">3</sup>ISR provides products and services for the global ISR market, C<sup style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: top">3</sup> systems, networked communications systems and secure communications products. The Company believes that these products and services are critical elements for a substantial number of major command, control and communication, intelligence gathering and space systems. These products and services are used to connect a variety of airborne, space, ground and sea-based communication systems and are used in the transmission, processing, recording, monitoring, and dissemination functions of these communication systems. Government Services provides a full range of engineering, technical, analytical, information technology (IT), advisory, training, logistics and support services to the DoD, DoS, DoJ, and U.S. Government intelligence agencies and allied foreign governments. AM&M provides modernization, upgrades and sustainment, maintenance and logistics support services for military and various government aircraft and other platforms. The Company sells these services primarily to the DoD, the Canadian Department of National Defense and other allied foreign governments. Electronic Systems provides a broad range of products and services, including components, products, subsystems, systems, and related services to military and commercial customers in several niche markets across several business areas, including power & control systems, electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR), microwave, simulation & training, precision engagement, aviation products, security & detection, propulsion systems, displays, telemetry & advanced technology, undersea warfare, and marine services. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true