PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS (Plan Assumptions) (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Plans Defined Benefit [Member]
DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedInCalculatingBenefitObligationAbstract
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate	3.95%	4.46%
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationRateOfCompensationIncrease	3.94%	3.96%
DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedInCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate	4.46%	5.16%
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets	8.02%	8.14%
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostRateOfCompensationIncrease	3.96%	3.99%
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans Of US Entity Defined Benefit [Member]
DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedInCalculatingBenefitObligationAbstract
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate	3.70%	4.48%
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumedHealthCareCostTrendRatesAbstract
DefinedBenefitPlanYearThatRateReachesUltimateTrendRate	2019	2014
DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear	8.00%	8.00%
DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate	5.50%	5.50%
DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedInCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract
DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate	4.48%	5.21%
Defined Benefit Plan Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates Net Periodic [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan Year That Rate Reaches Ultimate Trend Rate Net Periodic	2019	2014
Defined Benefit Plan Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed for Next Fiscal Year Net Periodic	8.00%	8.50%
Defined Benefit Plan Ultimate Health Care Cost Trend Rate Net Periodic	5.50%	5.50%

Name:	cw_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumedHealthCareCostTrendRatesNetPeriodicAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	cw_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The assumed health care cost trend rate for the next year used to measure the expected net periodic cost of benefits covered by the plan (gross eligible charges). This is based upon the annual rate of change in the cost of health care benefits currently provided by the postretirement benefit plan, due to factors other than changes in the composition of the plan population by age and dependency status.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cw_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYearNetPeriodic
Namespace Prefix:	cw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The ultimate trend rate for health care costs in net periodic assumptions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cw_DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRateNetPeriodic
Namespace Prefix:	cw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The year when the ultimate health care cost trend rate is expected to be reached on net periodic benefit assumptions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cw_DefinedBenefitPlanYearThatRateReachesUltimateTrendRateNetPeriodic
Namespace Prefix:	cw_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumedHealthCareCostTrendRatesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph j

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (k)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expected rate of compensation increases (for pay-related plans).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationRateOfCompensationIncrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

An assumption as to the rate of return on plan assets reflecting the average rate of earnings expected on the funds invested or to be invested to provide for the benefits included in the benefit obligation.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (k)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 87

-Paragraph 264

-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 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph j

-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 715

-SubTopic 30

-Glossary Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512013

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expected rate of compensation increases (for pay-related plans).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostRateOfCompensationIncrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The assumed health care cost trend rate for the next year used to measure the expected cost of benefits covered by the plan (gross eligible charges). This is based upon the annual rate of change in the cost of health care benefits currently provided by the postretirement benefit plan, due to factors other than changes in the composition of the plan population by age and dependency status.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The ultimate trend rate for health care costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedInCalculatingBenefitObligationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedInCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Year the ultimate health care cost trend rate is expected to be reached, in CCYY format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanYearThatRateReachesUltimateTrendRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant