ACQUISITIONS Narrative (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	59 Months Ended	0 Months Ended						0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 business	Jun. 30, 2013 business	Oct. 02, 2012 Poole and Associates, Inc. employee	Oct. 02, 2012 Poole and Associates, Inc. Minimum	Oct. 02, 2012 Poole and Associates, Inc. Maximum	Oct. 12, 2012 Sensage, Inc employee	Oct. 12, 2012 Sensage, Inc Meeting Revenue Target, Common Stock	Oct. 12, 2012 Sensage, Inc Meeting Revenue Target, Cash	Oct. 12, 2012 Sensage, Inc Minimum	Oct. 12, 2012 Sensage, Inc Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Rsignia, Inc. and Dilijent solutions, LLC business	Dec. 31, 2012 Rsignia, Inc. and Dilijent solutions, LLC Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Rsignia, Inc. and Dilijent solutions, LLC Warrant	Jan. 31, 2013 IDEAL Technology Corporation
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of businesses or operating entities acquired		15
Initial cash payments			$ 116,000,000			$ 15,000,000					$ 7,000,000			$ 7,000,000
Number of shares of KeyW stock			794,913			713,151						316,231	158,116	157,655
Share price (in dollars per share)			$ 12.58			$ 12.62								$ 12.69
Purchase price			126,000,000			24,000,000								9,100,000
Intangible Assets			21,709,000			8,498,000					6,001,000			2,056,000
Weighted average useful life for acquired finite-lived intangible assets				2 years	5 years				1 year	5 years
Number of employees			152			35
Number of employees with security clearance			124
Contingent consideration, liability							7,500,000	3,000,000
Additional cash paid						78,000
Number of businesses acquired during period	2										2
Equity Issued			$ 9,969,000			$ 9,292,000					$ 4,828,000			$ 2,027,000
Exercise Price											12.65