Business Segment Information for Continuing Operations (Detail) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2008 CAD	Oct. 25, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 26, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 26, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2012 CAD	Jan. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 USD ($)		Oct. 26, 2012 USD ($)		Oct. 28, 2011 USD ($)		Oct. 25, 2013 Avionics & Controls USD ($)		Oct. 26, 2012 Avionics & Controls USD ($)		Oct. 28, 2011 Avionics & Controls USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 Sensors & Systems USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2012 Sensors & Systems USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2011 Sensors & Systems USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2013 Advanced Materials USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2012 Advanced Materials USD ($)	Oct. 28, 2011 Advanced Materials USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales		$ 534,162	$ 478,068	$ 499,562	$ 457,962	$ 530,656	$ 485,949	$ 504,831		$ 470,882	$ 1,969,754	[1]	$ 1,992,318	[1]	$ 1,717,985	[1]	$ 771,657		$ 790,015		$ 841,939	$ 701,930	$ 702,394	$ 414,609	$ 496,167	$ 499,909	$ 461,437
Segment Earnings											300,089		219,353		240,030		103,232	[2]	54,917	[2]	135,187	89,696	70,890	22,536	107,161	93,546	82,307
Corporate expense											(62,166)		(43,201)		(48,969)
Gain on settlement of contingency	11,800							11,900	11,800		0		11,891		0
Other income (expense)											0		1,263		6,853
Loss on extinguishment of debt											(946)		0		(831)
Interest income											539		465		1,615
Interest expense											(39,667)		(46,238)		(40,216)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Taxes											$ 197,849		$ 143,533		$ 158,482

[1] Based on country from which the sale originated and the sale was recorded.

[2] Fiscal 2013 includes a $3.5 million impairment charge against Racal Acoustics' goodwill and fiscal 2012 includes a $52.2 million impairment charge against Racal Acoustics' goodwill.