Subsequent Events (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended									1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Oct. 25, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011 Exelis Notes [Member]	Oct. 28, 2011 Exelis Notes [Member]	Oct. 25, 2011 Exelis Notes [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Xylem Notes [Member]	Oct. 25, 2011 Xylem Notes [Member]	Oct. 25, 2011 Three Year Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Four Year Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 25, 2011 Four Year Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] Exelis and Xylem Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Minimum [Member] Exelis and Xylem Revolving Credit Facilities [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Minimum [Member]	Oct. 21, 2011 7.40% Notes and Debentures due November 2025 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 7.40% Notes and Debentures due November 2025 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 4.90% Notes and Debentures due May 2014 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 6.125% Notes and Debentures due May 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Three-year revolving credit facility due August 2013												$ 1,500		$ 500
Aggregate Principal Amount							600			600
Maximum aggregate principal amount under the facility									800		800			700
Potential maximum increase in credit facility														200
Voluntary prepayments permitted													50
Ratio of consolidated indebtedness to Ebitda															3.00	1.00	3.00	1.00
Ratio of consolidated Ebitda to interest expense																	3.00	1.00
Borrowed from revolving credit facility								240
Interest Rate of Notes and debentures:																				7.40%	4.90%	6.125%
Subsequent Events (Textual) [Abstract]
Ratio of reverse stock split	0.50
Effect to the reverse stock split	$ 0.091	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.75	$ 0.75
Amount of pre-reverse stock split basis	$ 0.0455
Maturity period of new credit facility	4 years
Extension period of credit facility	1 year
Outstanding letter of credit						100
Reduced minimum commitment amount						10
Interest rate per annum	The federal funds effective rate plus one-half of 1% or the 1-month LIBO rate, adjusted for statutory reserve requirements, plus 1%, in each case, plus an applicable margin.
Extinguishment of debentures through tender offer of 2025 Notes	88
Remaining amount on 2025 notes																			162
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	$ 325	$ (3)		$ (3)
Percentage to be added to effective federal funds rate under condition one				one-half of 1%
Percentage to be added to effective federal funds rate under condition two				1-month LIBOR rate
Percentage to be added to computed percentage under conditions one or two to compute interest rate				1.00%