Retirement Benefits Categorization of Plan Assets (Details 7) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 32,413	$ 31,006
Cash and cash equivalents
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,213	974
U.S. equities
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,719	1,824
International equities
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,563	1,570
U.S. Treasuries
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	4,008	3,537
U.S. Government Agency
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	130	97
Non-U.S. Government
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	430	283
Corporate debt
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	3,985	3,743
Asset backed
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,759	1,301
High-yield debt
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	20	32
Bank loans
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	17	16
Derivatives and other assets
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	59	46
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	(709)	(541)
NOC Common Stock [Member]
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	1
Level 1
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	3,550	3,671
Level 1 | Cash and cash equivalents
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	147	223
Level 1 | U.S. equities
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,719	1,824
Level 1 | International equities
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,563	1,570
Level 1 | U.S. Treasuries
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	0	17
Level 1 | Non-U.S. Government
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1	1
Level 1 | Corporate debt
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	135	79
Level 1 | High-yield debt
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	8	12
Level 1 | Derivatives and other assets
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	(23)	(55)
Level 2
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	11,351	9,750
Level 2 | Cash and cash equivalents
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,066	751
Level 2 | U.S. Treasuries
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	4,008	3,520
Level 2 | U.S. Government Agency
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	130	97
Level 2 | Non-U.S. Government
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	429	282
Level 2 | Corporate debt
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	3,850	3,664
Level 2 | Asset backed
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,759	1,301
Level 2 | High-yield debt
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	12	20
Level 2 | Bank loans
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	17	16
Level 2 | Derivatives and other assets
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	80	99
Level 3
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2
Level 3 | Derivatives and other assets
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	2	2
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share | U.S. equities
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,659	1,486
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share | International equities
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	4,292	4,071
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share | Fixed Income Funds
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	3,664	3,559
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share | Private Equity Funds [Member]
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	2,950	3,521
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share | Real Estate Funds [Member]
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	1,560	1,860
Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share | Other Alternative Funds
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Fair value of plan assets	4,094	3,627
Pension and Other Post-retirement benefit plans [Member]
Plan Assets by Fair Value Measurement Input (Table Amounts) [Abstract]
Derivative Asset	113	107
Derivative Liability	(103)	(123)
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 12,400	$ 9,200