Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 666,240	$ 697,717	$ 1,926,795	$ 2,066,808
Cost of revenues	512,877	565,703	1,474,763	1,623,634
Selling, general and administrative expenses	119,168	133,215	361,945	394,689
Amortization of intangible assets	8,047	8,176	24,141	25,029
Total operating expenses	640,092	707,094	1,860,849	2,043,352
Program profit (loss)	26,148	(9,377)	65,946	23,456
Other income (loss), net	2,384	(1,148)	4,338	6,530
Operating income (loss)	28,532	(10,525)	70,284	29,986
Interest expense, net	(13,607)	(20,983)	(48,312)	(65,260)
Income (loss) before income taxes	14,925	(31,508)	21,972	(35,274)
Expense (benefit) from income taxes	4,194	117	(767)	(1,877)
Net income (loss)	10,731	(31,625)	22,739	(33,397)
Noncontrolling interest in earnings of ventures	413	545	1,344	1,819
Net income (loss)	$ 10,318	$ (32,170)	$ 21,395	$ (35,216)
Net income (loss) per share attributed to PAE Incorporated:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ (1.52)	$ 0.26	$ (1.67)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ (1.52)	$ 0.26	$ (1.67)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	92,070,306	21,127,823	81,323,258	21,127,823
Diluted (in shares)	93,392,565	21,127,823	82,115,825	21,127,823