Acquisition (Details) (NEK Special Programs Group LLC (NEK), USD $)	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 14, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Acquisitions
Cost of acquisition net	$ 52,000,000
Fair value of consideration transferred	53,200,000
Cash paid for acquisition		33,100,000	33,100,000
Estimated current liability of additional cash consideration		20,100,000	20,100,000
Additional cash consideration accelerated if certain event occure		8,400,000
Fair value of additional contingent cash consideration		11,700,000	11,700,000
Purchase price allocation
Accounts receivable - billed	3,400,000
Accounts receivable - unbilled	7,700,000
Accounts payable	2,700,000
Other net tangible assets acquired	(400,000)
Net identifiable assets acquired	26,400,000
Goodwill	26,800,000
Total	53,200,000
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets			4 years
Estimated amortization expense related to the intangible assets
2013		3,000,000	3,000,000
2014		3,400,000	3,400,000
2015		2,900,000	2,900,000
2016		2,400,000	2,400,000
2017		1,900,000	1,900,000
Unaudited pro forma information
Net sales			324,000,000	327,000,000
Net income attributable to Cubic			13,100,000	21,100,000
Customer relationships
Purchase price allocation
Amortizable intangible assets	13,300,000
Customer relationships | Minimum
Acquisitions
Number of employees hired	200
Period within which contingent consideration will be paid	2 months
Corporate trade names
Purchase price allocation
Amortizable intangible assets	4,900,000
Corporate trade names | Minimum
Acquisitions
Period within which contingent consideration will be paid	6 months
Non-compete agreements
Purchase price allocation
Amortizable intangible assets	$ 200,000