SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Estimated Useful Life for the Intangible Assets (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016
Order backlog - Orbital
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	2 years
Trade name - Orbital
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	10 years
Trade name - V - Infinity
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	5 years
Tradename - CUI - Canada
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	3 years
Customer List - Orbital
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	10 years
Customer List - CUI Canada
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	7 years
Technology Rights
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	20 years	[1]
Technology-Based Asset-Know How
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	12 years
Technology -Based Asset - Software
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	10 years
Technology - Based Asset - Power
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	7 years
Patents
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	0 years	[2]
Other Intangible Assets
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	0 years	[3]
Patents Pending Technology
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	0 years	[4]
Software | Maximum
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	5 years	[5]
Software | Minimum
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets	3 years	[5]
Customer List - CUI
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	0 years	[4]
Tradename - CUI
Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	0 years	[4]

[1] Technology rights are amortized over a 20-year life or the term of the rights agreement.

[2] Patents are amortized over the life of the patent. Any patents not approved will be expensed at that time.

[3] Other intangible assets are amortized over an appropriate useful life, as determined by management in relation to the other intangible asset characteristics.

[4] Indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed annually for impairment and when circumstances suggest.

[5] Software assets are recorded at cost and include major expenditures, which increase productivity or substantially increase useful lives.