Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2021	Jun. 28, 2020	Jun. 27, 2021	Jun. 28, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 747,198	$ 643,303	$ 1,495,765	$ 1,260,556
Cost of revenues	564,952	496,678	1,131,618	961,886
Selling, general and administrative expenses	142,776	105,451	288,067	242,777
Amortization of intangible assets	12,631	8,047	24,846	16,094
Total operating expenses	720,359	610,176	1,444,531	1,220,757
Program profit	26,839	33,127	51,234	39,799
Other operating income, net	3,922	1,168	5,723	1,954
Operating income	30,761	34,295	56,957	41,753
Interest expense, net	(13,160)	(13,757)	(25,674)	(34,705)
Other (loss) income, net	(66)	(19,467)	1,134	10,645
Income before income taxes	17,535	1,071	32,417	17,693
Expense (benefit) from income taxes	2,626	3,752	5,235	(5,776)
Net income (loss)	14,909	(2,681)	27,182	23,469
Noncontrolling interest in earnings of ventures	559	765	(552)	931
Net income (loss) attributed to PAE Incorporated	$ 14,350	$ (3,446)	$ 27,734	$ 22,538
Net income (loss) per share attributed to PAE Incorporated:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.04)	$ 0.30	$ 0.30
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ (0.04)	$ 0.29	$ 0.30
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	93,097,652	92,044,098	92,860,800	75,890,028
Diluted (in shares)	95,511,269	92,787,379	95,193,549	76,273,931