Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Previously Reported	Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment	Total PAE Incorporated Stockholders’ Equity	Total PAE Incorporated Stockholders’ Equity Previously Reported	Common Stock	Common Stock Previously Reported	Common Stock Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Previously Reported	Additional Paid-in Capital Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Previously Reported	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) / Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) / Income Previously Reported	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Previously Reported
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ (11,909)	$ (11,909)	$ 0	$ (43,760)	$ (43,760)	$ 2	$ 3	$ (1)	$ 101,743	$ 101,742	$ 1	$ (145,371)	$ (145,371)	$ (134)	$ (134)	$ 31,851	$ 31,851
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019						21,127,823	282,047	20,845,776
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	26,150			25,984								25,984				166
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(695)			(695)										(695)
Distributions to venture partners and other	0
Equity contributions from venture partners	165			13					13							152
Equity infusion from Gores	307,941			307,941		$ 5			307,936
Equity infusion from Gores (in shares)						46,999,787
Private placement	212,910			212,910		$ 2			212,908
Private placement (in shares)						23,913,044
Payment to Shay stockholders	(424,243)			(424,243)					(424,243)
Ending balance at Mar. 29, 2020	110,319			78,150		$ 9			198,357			(119,387)		(829)		32,169
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2020						92,040,654
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	(11,909)	$ (11,909)	$ 0	(43,760)	$ (43,760)	$ 2	$ 3	$ (1)	101,743	$ 101,742	$ 1	(145,371)	$ (145,371)	(134)	$ (134)	31,851	$ 31,851
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019						21,127,823	282,047	20,845,776
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	23,469
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(493)
Ending balance at Jun. 28, 2020	92,866			58,436		$ 9			181,888			(122,833)		(628)		34,430
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 28, 2020						92,040,654
Beginning balance at Mar. 29, 2020	110,319			78,150		$ 9			198,357			(119,387)		(829)		32,169
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2020						92,040,654
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(2,681)			(3,446)								(3,446)				765
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	201			201										201
Distributions to venture partners and other	(443)															(443)
Equity contributions from venture partners	1,939															1,939
Equity infusion from Gores	0
Private placement	0
Payment to Shay stockholders	(20,169)			(20,169)					(20,169)
Stock-based compensation	3,700			3,700					3,700
Ending balance at Jun. 28, 2020	92,866			58,436		$ 9			181,888			(122,833)		(628)		34,430
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 28, 2020						92,040,654
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 106,185			73,949		$ 9			188,685			(116,621)		1,876		32,236
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	92,040,654					92,040,654
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ 12,273			13,384								13,384				(1,111)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(995)			(995)										(995)
Equity contributions from venture partners	467															467
Deconsolidation of venture	188															188
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(15,174)			(17,398)					(17,398)							2,224
Stock-based compensation tax withholding obligation	(5,659)			(5,659)					(5,659)
Stock-based compensation	2,270			2,270					2,270
Ending balance at Mar. 28, 2021	99,555			65,551		$ 9			167,898			(103,237)		881		34,004
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 28, 2021						92,040,654
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 106,185			73,949		$ 9			188,685			(116,621)		1,876		32,236
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	92,040,654					92,040,654
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	$ 27,182
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(366)
Ending balance at Jun. 27, 2021	$ 116,590			82,877		$ 9			170,245			(88,887)		1,510		33,713
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 27, 2021	93,069,815					92,040,654
Beginning balance at Mar. 28, 2021	$ 99,555			65,551		$ 9			167,898			(103,237)		881		34,004
Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 28, 2021						92,040,654
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	14,909			14,350								14,350				559
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	629			629										629
Distributions to venture partners and other	(850)															(850)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(8)			(8)					(8)							0
Stock-based compensation	2,355			2,355					2,355
Ending balance at Jun. 27, 2021	$ 116,590			$ 82,877		$ 9			$ 170,245			$ (88,887)		$ 1,510		$ 33,713
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 27, 2021	93,069,815					92,040,654