RETIREMENT PLANS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of defined contribution plans	4
KEYW Corporation Employee 401(k) Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Authorized contributions	$ 7,800,000	$ 4,100,000	$ 3,200,000
Percent of employee salary	10.00%
FASI Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Authorized contributions	908,000	433,000
Fixed contribution percentage	3.00%
Poole Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Authorized contributions	304,000
Fixed contribution percentage	3.00%
Sensage Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Authorized contributions	0
Percent of employee salary	0.00%
Sycamore.US, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Authorized contributions		866,000
Employer matching contribution percentage	50.00%
Percent of employee salary	6.00%
Everest Technology Solutions Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Authorized contributions		803,000
Vesting period	3 years
Percent of employee salary	6.00%
JKA Retirement Plan
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Authorized contributions		$ 291,000
Vesting period	1 year
Percent of employee salary	6.00%
JKA Retirement Plan, Safe Harbor Contribution
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percent of employee salary	3.00%
JKA Retirement Plan, Profit Contribution
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percent of employee salary	1.00%