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Stock Compensation Plans and Other Compensation Arrangements (Detail 1) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award      
Stock-based compensation expense $ 134us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 144us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 183us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation expense 81us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 41us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 45us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Stock options      
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award      
Stock-based compensation expense 0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember		 4us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember		 10us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Stock awards      
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award      
Stock-based compensation expense 134us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockAwardsMember		 140us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockAwardsMember		 173us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockAwardsMember
Stock options, exercised      
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award      
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation expense 29us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockOptionsExercisedMember		 25us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockOptionsExercisedMember		 26us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockOptionsExercisedMember
Stock awards, issued      
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award      
Tax benefits from stock-based compensation expense $ 52us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockAwardsIssuedMember		 $ 16us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockAwardsIssuedMember		 $ 19us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_StockAwardsIssuedMember