The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6390789&loc=d3e2420-110228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 45, 46, 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Company Transformation (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Oct. 17, 2011 Exelis [Member]	Oct. 17, 2011 Xylem [Member]
Company transformation (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
Transformation costs	$ 132	$ 0	$ 279	$ 0
Non-cash asset impairment	9		64
Tax-related separation costs	4		(10)
Estimated transformation after-tax cost			275
Estimated transformation cost after-tax prior to completion			210
Impairment related to a decision to discontinue development			55
Impairment of long-lived assets			9
Expected separation related cash outflows after-tax			$ 130
Company Transformation (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of shares received as dividend by stockholders per share holding					1	1