Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Oct. 02, 2015	Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 02, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		$ 49,341	$ 58,040	$ 68,472	$ 55,407	[1]
Depreciation and amortization		90,575	103,770	100,258	103,357	[1]
Identifiable Assets		3,000,488	3,130,323	3,032,031	3,000,488
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		542	0	0	789
Depreciation and amortization		496	0	12	1,877
Identifiable Assets		57,095	21,192	29,488	57,095
Operating Segments | Avionics & Controls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		13,074	19,315	36,423	14,537
Depreciation and amortization		33,415	40,853	38,909	38,070
Identifiable Assets		1,276,678	1,382,893	1,304,860	1,276,678
Operating Segments | Sensors & Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	[2]	19,489	22,804	14,319	21,766
Depreciation and amortization		37,250	41,722	40,399	41,200
Identifiable Assets		1,116,282	1,150,707	1,140,624	1,116,282
Operating Segments | Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures	[3]	14,324	14,247	15,868	16,309
Depreciation and amortization		17,474	18,559	18,691	19,708
Identifiable Assets		493,968	504,965	498,442	493,968
Corporate Non Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures		1,912	1,674	1,862	2,006
Depreciation and amortization		1,940	2,636	2,247	2,502
Identifiable Assets	[4]	$ 56,465	$ 70,566	$ 58,617	$ 56,465

[1] (Recast)

[2] Excludes capital expenditures accounted for as a capitalized lease obligation of $0.5 million and $8.0 million in fiscal 2017 and 2016, respectively.

[3] Excludes capital expenditures accounted for as a capitalized lease obligation of $3.5 million and $3.3 million in fiscal 2017 and 2016, respectively.

[4] Primarily cash and deferred tax assets (see Note 10).