ACQUISITIONS Narrative (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May. 29, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
NetClarity Inc and Architecture Technology Corporation [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Initial cash payments	$ 2,900
Number of shares of KeyW stock	99,851
Equity Issued	$ 1,066
Milestone and Ponte Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Initial cash payments		$ 21,200
Number of shares of KeyW stock		242,250
Equity Issued		$ 1,858	$ 1,858