Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 aircraft	Dec. 31, 2011
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities on outstanding letters of credit agreements and surety bonds	$ 4,621	$ 6,199
Expiration date of trade in commitment agreements, minimum	2012
Expiration date of trade in commitment agreements, maximum	2023
Number of C-17 Aircraft	2
C-17 Program [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, estimate of possible loss	155
C-17 Program [Member] | USAF [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of C-17 orders included in backlog	5
C-17 Program [Member] | International [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of C-17 orders included in backlog	12
Environmental Remediation Expense [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount by which estimated range of reasonably possible remediation costs exceeded recorded liabilities	925	1,003
Financing Commitment [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Other Commitment	17,998	15,866
Total Contractual Trade In Value Maximum [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Other Commitment	1,164	273
Probable Contractual Trade In Value [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Other Commitment	91	27
ULA Additional Capital Commitment [Member]
Liabilities Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Other Commitment	$ 462