Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2021	Mar. 29, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 748,567	$ 617,253
Cost of revenues	566,666	465,208
Selling, general and administrative expenses	145,291	137,326
Amortization of intangible assets	12,215	8,047
Total operating expenses	724,172	610,581
Program profit	24,395	6,672
Other operating income, net	1,801	785
Operating income	26,196	7,457
Interest expense, net	(12,514)	(20,948)
Other income, net	1,200	30,112
Income before income taxes	14,882	16,621
Expense (benefit) from income taxes	2,609	(9,529)
Net income	12,273	26,150
Noncontrolling interest in earnings of ventures	(1,111)	166
Net income (loss)	$ 13,384	$ 25,984
Net income per share attributed to PAE Incorporated:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.43
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.43
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	92,613,057	59,807,549
Diluted (in shares)	95,128,326	59,807,549