Business Segment Information for Continuing Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2016	Jun. 26, 2015		Jul. 01, 2016	Jun. 26, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 517,092	$ 484,723	[1]	$ 1,448,879	$ 1,457,544	[1]
Other income	0	0	[1]	0	12,744	[1]
Interest income	30	87	[1]	211	406	[1]
Interest expense	(7,659)	(10,393)	[1]	(22,169)	(24,409)	[1]
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(329)	[1]	0	(329)	[1]
Earnings from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	46,416	35,091	[1]	77,045	111,274	[1]
Avionics & Controls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	222,583	200,078		607,493	594,025
Sensors & Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	186,337	175,544		514,836	529,976
Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	108,172	109,101		326,550	333,543
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Earnings	71,971	64,318		153,959	184,316
Operating Segments | Avionics & Controls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Earnings	28,517	16,836		40,579	62,096
Operating Segments | Sensors & Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Earnings	27,942	22,968		61,670	56,682
Operating Segments | Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Earnings	15,512	24,514		51,710	65,538
Corporate Non Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Corporate expense	$ (17,926)	$ (18,592)		$ (54,956)	$ (61,454)

[1] (Recast)