Discontinued Operations - Results of Discontinued Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0.8	$ 15.9	$ 447.0
Exelis [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue			4,916.1
Transformation costs			31.2
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes			473.0
Income tax expense (benefit)			193.6
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			279.4
Xylem [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue			3,107.5
Transformation costs			74.8
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes			321.5
Income tax expense (benefit)			70.3
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax			251.2
Shape Cutting Businesses [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue		30.2	33.5
Transformation costs			0
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes		0.6	(2.5)
Gain on sale before tax		9.0
Income tax expense (benefit)		0	(1.1)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		9.6	(1.4)
Other [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue		0	0
Transformation costs			134.1
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes		0.4	(108.9)
Gain on sale before tax		0
Income tax expense (benefit)		(5.9)	(26.7)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		6.3	(82.2)
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue		30.2	8,057.1
Transformation costs			240.1
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes		1.0	683.1
Gain on sale before tax		9.0
Income tax expense (benefit)		(5.9)	236.1
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 15.9	$ 447.0