XML 15 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Investigations, Claims and Litigation (Unaudited) (Details)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
United States Postal Service
USD ($)
May 04, 2012
Unpaid Portions of Contract Price and Direct Costs Incurred [Member]
United States Postal Service
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Solystic Matter [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Solystic Matter [Member]
EUR (€)
May 04, 2012
Acts and Omissions with Adverse Affects on Performance and Obligations [Member]
United States Postal Service
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2007
United States Postal Service
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
United States Postal Service
False Claims Act
Threatened Litigation
USD ($)
Aug. 08, 2013
Solystic Matter [Member]
Defendant
Mar. 31, 2015
Solystic Matter [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Solystic Matter [Member]
BRL
Mar. 31, 2015
Initial Claim [Member]
Solystic Matter [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Initial Claim [Member]
Solystic Matter [Member]
BRL
Mar. 31, 2015
Incremental claim [Member]
Solystic Matter [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Incremental claim [Member]
Solystic Matter [Member]
BRL
Loss Contingencies                                
Contract award               $ 875noc_ContractAward
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_UnitedStatesPostalServiceMember
               
Receivables, unpaid long-term contracts 3,131us-gaap_ReceivablesLongTermContractsOrPrograms 2,806us-gaap_ReceivablesLongTermContractsOrPrograms   63us-gaap_ReceivablesLongTermContractsOrPrograms
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= noc_UnpaidPortionsOfContractPriceAndDirectCostsIncurredMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_UnitedStatesPostalServiceMember
                       
Gain contingency, unrecorded amount         34us-gaap_GainContingencyUnrecordedAmount
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
31us-gaap_GainContingencyUnrecordedAmount
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
115us-gaap_GainContingencyUnrecordedAmount
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= noc_ActsAndOmissionsWithAdverseAffectsOnPerformanceAndObligationsMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_UnitedStatesPostalServiceMember
                 
Claims asserted, range of possible loss, maximum 795us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum   410us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_UnitedStatesPostalServiceMember
                         
Loss contingency, estimate of possible loss                 $ 179us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_FalseClaimsActMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_ThreatenedLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_UnitedStatesPostalServiceMember
  $ 34us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
111us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
$ 27us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ noc_ClaimAmountAxis
= noc_InitialClaimMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
89us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ noc_ClaimAmountAxis
= noc_InitialClaimMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
$ 7us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ noc_ClaimAmountAxis
= noc_IncrementalclaimMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
22us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
/ noc_ClaimAmountAxis
= noc_IncrementalclaimMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
Loss Contingency, Number of Additional Defendants                   2us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= noc_SolysticMatterMember