SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
Net sales	$ 425,917	$ 347,806	$ 338,834	$ 318,488	$ 396,366	$ 340,357	$ 354,492	$ 307,137	$ 1,431,045	$ 1,398,352	$ 1,361,407
Operating income (loss)	34,709	10,293	23,206	7,179	39,268	19,215	22,177	11,830	75,387	92,490	40,735
Net income attributable to Cubic	$ 19,977	$ 8,780	$ (11,024)	$ 5,152	$ 32,805	$ 12,206	$ 16,092	$ 8,388	$ 22,885	$ 69,491	$ 25,086
Net income (loss) per share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.33	$ (0.41)	$ 0.19	$ 1.22	$ 0.46	$ 0.60	$ 0.31	$ 0.85	$ 2.59	$ 0.94
Net income (loss) per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.33	$ (0.41)	$ 0.19	$ 1.22	$ 0.45	$ 0.60	$ 0.31	$ 0.85	$ 2.59	$ 0.94
Goodwill impairment charge related to MSS reporting unit									$ 0		$ 50,865