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Stock Compensation Plans and Other Compensation Arrangements (Details 4) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Unrecognized compensation expense, non-vested awards $ 89us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized      
Weighted-average period for unrecognized compensation expense to be charged to expense 1 year 3 months      
Stock plans, vesting period 3 years      
Stock issued, settlement of fully vested stock awards, shares 2,600,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures 3,400,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures 2,800,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures  
Stock issued, settlement of fully vested stock awards, fair value at issuance 305us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures 226us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures 172us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures  
Stock issued, settlement of fully vested stock awards, fair value grant date 80noc_StockIssuedDuringPeriodFairValueGrantDateShareBasedCompensation 105noc_StockIssuedDuringPeriodFairValueGrantDateShareBasedCompensation 75noc_StockIssuedDuringPeriodFairValueGrantDateShareBasedCompensation  
Stock awards - granted 763,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod 1,577,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod 1,860,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod  
2011 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Number of shares authorized 39,100,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= noc_A2011LongTermIncentiveStockPlanMember
     
Share limit for every one share issued in connection with awards 4.5noc_ShareLimitIssuedInConnectionWithAwards
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= noc_A2011LongTermIncentiveStockPlanMember
     
Available for future grant 25,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= noc_A2011LongTermIncentiveStockPlanMember
     
2001 Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan Rolled into 2011 Plan [Member]        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Number of shares authorized 6,900,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= noc_A2001LongTermIncentiveStockPlanRolledinto2011PlanMember
     
Minimum        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Required service period under 2011 Plan and 1993 SPND (years) 5 years      
Minimum | Grants During 2010 and After [Member]        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Grants Percentage Financial Metric Met Exceeded 0.00%noc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardGrantsPercentageFinancialMetricMetExceeded
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= noc_GrantsDuring2010AndAfterMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Maximum | Grants During 2010 and After [Member]        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Grants Percentage Financial Metric Met Exceeded 200.00%noc_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardGrantsPercentageFinancialMetricMetExceeded
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= noc_GrantsDuring2010AndAfterMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
     
Employee Stock Option [Member]        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Stock options, issued 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Restricted Performance Stock Rights        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Stock awards - granted 600,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_RestrictedPerformanceStockRightsMember
     
Cash Units and Cash Performance Units [Member]        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Unrecognized compensation expense, non-vested awards 122us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_CashUnitsAndCashPerformanceUnitsMember
     
Cash Units and Cash Performance Units [Member] | Minimum        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Unrecognized compensation expense, non-vested awards 32us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_CashUnitsAndCashPerformanceUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
     
Cash Units and Cash Performance Units [Member] | Maximum        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Unrecognized compensation expense, non-vested awards 179us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_CashUnitsAndCashPerformanceUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
     
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Stock awards - granted 200,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Stock Option Plan Granted After 2008        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Stock plans, vesting period 3 years      
Award expiration period 7 years      
Restricted Stock Rights and Restricted Performance Stock Rights        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Unrecognized compensation expense, non-vested awards 90us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= noc_RestrictedStockRightsAndRestrictedPerformanceStockRightsMember
     
Forecast        
Share-based Compensation by Share-based Payment Award        
Unrecognized compensation expense, non-vested awards       $ 107us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Stock awards - granted       2,600,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember