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Fair Value of Financial Instruments #2 (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
1 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in Marketable Securities [Abstract]      
Marketable Securities, Noncurrent   $ 331us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesNoncurrent $ 336us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesNoncurrent
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]      
Derivative, Notional Amount   140invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount 146invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Senior Notes [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 600us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
   
Thirty Year Term [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 3.85%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= noc_ThirtyYearTermMember
   
Thirty Year Term [Member] | April 45 Maturity [Domain] | Senior Notes [Member]      
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Apr. 15, 2045    
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]      
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]      
Derivative, Notional Amount   $ 24invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
$ 34invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember