Basis of Presentation (Details Textual) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 30, 2011 Year	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 30, 2011 ViaSat-1 satellite performance incentives [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Common Stock Held in Treasury [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Common Stock Held in Treasury [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Common Stock Held in Treasury [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Customer Premise Equipment [Member] Year	Apr. 01, 2011 Customer Premise Equipment [Member]	Jul. 02, 2010 Government satellite communication program [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Government satellite communication program [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Accounting Standards Update No 2009-13 [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Accounting Standards Update No 2011-04 [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Accounting Standards Update No 2011-05 [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Accounting Standards Update No 2011-08 [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Accounting Standards Update 2011-11 [Member]
Recent authoritative guidance
Description of new accounting pronouncements																In October 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for revenue recognition with multiple deliverables (ASU 2009-13, which updated ASC 605-25). This new guidance impacts the determination of when the individual deliverables included in a multiple-element arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting. Additionally, this authoritative guidance modifies the manner in which the transaction consideration is allocated across the separately identified deliverables by no longer permitting the residual method of allocating arrangement consideration. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 without a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.	In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (ASC 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The new authoritative guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between GAAP and IFRS. While many of the amendments to GAAP are not expected to have a significant effect on practice, the new guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. This authoritative guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. Adoption of this authoritative guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.	In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The new authoritative guidance requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The new authoritative guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of equity. In December 2011, the FASB further amended its guidance to defer changes related to the presentation of reclassification adjustments indefinitely as a result of concerns raised by stakeholders that the new presentation requirements would be difficult for preparers and add unnecessary complexity to financial statements. The amendment (other than the portion regarding the presentation of reclassification adjustments which, as noted above, has been deferred indefinitely) will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 and should be applied retrospectively; however, early adoption is permitted. The amendment will impact the presentation of the financial statements but will not impact the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.	In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (ASC 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The new authoritative guidance simplifies how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The new authoritative guidance allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The two-step quantitative impairment test is required only if, based on its qualitative assessment, an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. This authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted if an entity’s financial statements for the more recent interim and annual period have not yet been issued.The Company will early adopt this authoritative guidance in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. Adoption of this authoritative guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.	In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (ASC 210): Disclosures about offsetting Assets and Liabilities. The new authoritative guidance requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with certain financial instruments and derivative instruments in the scope of this authoritative guidance. This authoritative guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and should be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this authoritative guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Revenue Recognition [Line Items]
Forward loss related to loss contracts		$ 500,000	$ 2,300,000	$ 1,200,000	$ 11,500,000									$ 8,500,000	$ 8,500,000
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total accumulated depreciation of CPE		192,414,000		192,414,000			149,238,000					29,900,000	19,200,000
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Repurchase of common stock									157,183	144,871
Purchase of treasury shares pursuant to vesting of certain RSU agreements				6,991,000					6,991,000	5,500,000
Repurchased shares of common stock held in treasury									717,546		560,363
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Satellite orbital performance payables current and noncurrent		22,300,000		22,300,000
Satellite orbital performance payables noncurrent		20,700,000		20,700,000
Satellite orbital performance payables current		1,600,000		1,600,000
Period of performance incentive payments including interest				15 years
Maximum contractual satellite orbital performance obligation								39,400,000
Basis of Presentation (Textual) [Abstract]
Defense Contract Audit Agency Completed Cost Audits				Contract costs on U.S. government contracts are subject to audit and negotiations with U.S. government representatives. The Company’s incurred cost audits by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) have not been completed for fiscal year 2003 and subsequent fiscal years. Although the Company has recorded contract revenues subsequent to fiscal year 2002 based upon an estimate of costs that the Company believes will be approved upon final audit or review, the Company does not know the outcome of any ongoing or future audits or reviews and adjustments, and if future adjustments exceed the Company’s estimates, its profitability would be adversely affected.
Total US government contract-related reserves balance		6,700,000		6,700,000			6,700,000
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life minimum (years)				2								3
Property, equipment and satellites, estimated useful life maximum (years)				24								5
Capitalized interest expense		8,100,000	7,800,000	23,400,000	20,500,000
CPE leased equipment, total cost		73,814,000		73,814,000			61,610,000
Capital Leases		3,100,000		3,100,000			3,100,000
Capital lease accumulated amortization		600,000		600,000			0
Total capitalized costs related to patents		3,200,000		3,200,000			3,200,000
Total capitalized costs related to orbital slots and other licenses		8,400,000		8,400,000			5,700,000
Accumulated amortization of patents and other licenses		400,000		400,000			300,000
Amortization expense related to patents and other licenses		0	0	0	0
Capitalized costs, net, related to software developed for resale		37,100,000		37,100,000			24,500,000
Capitalized cost related to software development for resale		6,500,000	3,400,000	15,800,000	11,400,000
Amortization expense of software development costs		800,000	0	3,200,000	0
Life over which software development costs are amortized once product is available for general release				5
Self-insurance liability		1,600,000		1,600,000			1,500,000
Indemnification liability		20,500,000		20,500,000		500,000	500,000
Indemnification receivable		20,000,000		20,000,000			0
Payment received under indemnification agreement	20,000,000
Payment made under indemnification agreement	20,500,000
Amount recorded under indemnification agreement		20,000,000
Accrued indemnification losses		0		0			0
Common stock issued based on the vesting terms of certain restricted stock unit agreements				443,607	409,642
Notional value of foreign currency forward contracts		10,800,000		10,800,000			4,600,000
Foreign currency forward contracts maturity				15 months
Estimated net existing income expected to be reclassified into income within the next twelve months		600,000		600,000
Gains or losses from ineffectiveness of derivative instruments		0	0	0	0
Recognized stock based compensation expense		5,800,000	4,400,000	14,778,000	12,690,000
Incremental tax benefit from stock options exercised and restricted stock unit awards vesting				0	0
Maximum amount payable under indemnification agreement		$ 500,000		$ 500,000