Basis of Presentation (Unaudited) Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation and Reporting

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Northrop Grumman Corporation and subsidiaries (herein referred to as "Northrop Grumman," the "company," "we," "us," or "our"). All material intercompany accounts, transactions, and profits are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in equity securities and joint ventures where the company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the company have been prepared by management in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim reporting purposes. These statements include all adjustments of normal recurring nature considered necessary by management for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

The results reported in these financial statements are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K).

The quarterly information is labeled using a calendar convention; that is, first quarter is consistently labeled as ending on March 31, second quarter as ending on June 30, and third quarter as ending on September 30. It is management’s long-standing practice to establish actual interim closing dates using a “fiscal” calendar, which requires the businesses to close their books on a Friday near these quarter-end dates in order to normalize the potentially disruptive effects of quarterly closings on business processes. The effects of this practice only exist at interim periods within a reporting year.

Accounting Estimates

Accounting Estimates

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The preparation thereof requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingencies at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared on the basis of the most current and best available information; however, actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

The majority of our contracts are accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method. For such contracts, changes in estimates of contract sales, costs and profits are recognized using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting. This method recognizes, in the current period, the cumulative effect of the changes in contract performance as if the revised estimate had been used since contract inception. Changes in contract estimates occur for a variety of reasons, including changes in contract scope, changes in estimated contract revenue, changes in contract cost estimates due to unanticipated cost growth or the resolution of contract risks at lower costs than anticipated, as well as changes in contract overhead costs over the performance period. The company has an extensive contract management process involving several functional organizations and numerous personnel who are skilled at managing contract activities. As the company's business involves performing on a broad portfolio of long-term contracts, generally involving complex customized products and services, changes in estimates occur routinely over the contract performance period.