Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 136,118	$ 172,583	$ 36,007	$ 40,490
Accounts receivable, net	231,606	211,690
Inventories	132,890	127,646
Deferred income taxes	20,291	20,316
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,718	30,917
Total current assets	555,623	563,152
Satellites, net	560,521	585,731
Property and equipment, net	326,045	294,973
Other acquired intangible assets, net	55,059	63,041
Goodwill	83,537	83,461
Other assets	162,584	136,795
Total assets	1,743,369	1,727,153
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	80,646	75,040
Accrued liabilities	154,406	159,762
Current portion of other long-term debt	1,270	1,240
Total current liabilities	236,322	236,042
Senior Notes, net	548,039	547,791
Other long-term debt	131	774
Other liabilities	57,060	50,353
Total liabilities	841,552	834,960
ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity
Total ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity	897,562	887,975
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	4,255	4,218
Total equity	901,817	892,193
Total liabilities and equity	1,743,369	1,727,153
Issuing Parent Company [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	119,292	162,426	24,045	24,347
Accounts receivable, net	215,026	192,313
Inventories	99,509	106,151
Deferred income taxes	18,457	18,482
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	28,444	27,128
Current portion of intercompany receivables	65,443
Total current assets	546,171	506,500
Satellites, net	348,119	358,580
Property and equipment, net	183,723	178,611
Other acquired intangible assets, net	2,084	2,633
Goodwill	63,939	63,939
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables	404,693	437,631
Other assets	126,172	117,300
Total assets	1,674,901	1,665,194
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	65,254	62,085
Accrued liabilities	123,524	128,327
Current portion of other long-term debt	133	129
Total current liabilities	188,911	190,541
Senior Notes, net	548,039	547,791
Other long-term debt	7	74
Intercompany payables	1,650	1,428
Other liabilities	38,732	37,385
Total liabilities	777,339	777,219
ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity
Total ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity	897,562	887,975
Total equity	897,562	887,975
Total liabilities and equity	1,674,901	1,665,194
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	6,911	439	1,361	7,600
Accounts receivable, net	9,701	12,411
Inventories	27,744	16,474
Deferred income taxes	1,526	1,526
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,660	2,923
Total current assets	51,542	33,773
Satellites, net	212,402	227,151
Property and equipment, net	136,170	110,137
Other acquired intangible assets, net	45,913	52,389
Goodwill	9,687	9,687
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables	2,813	2,501
Other assets	35,755	18,886
Total assets	494,282	454,524
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	14,280	12,192
Accrued liabilities	26,265	27,477
Current portion of other long-term debt	1,137	1,111
Current portion of intercompany payables	65,443
Total current liabilities	107,125	40,780
Other long-term debt	124	700
Intercompany payables		4,462
Other liabilities	15,796	10,269
Total liabilities	123,045	56,211
ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity
Total ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity	371,237	398,313
Total equity	371,237	398,313
Total liabilities and equity	494,282	454,524
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,915	9,718	10,601	8,543
Accounts receivable, net	6,879	6,966
Inventories	5,637	5,021
Deferred income taxes	308	308
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	614	866
Total current assets	23,353	22,879
Property and equipment, net	6,152	6,225
Other acquired intangible assets, net	7,062	8,019
Goodwill	9,911	9,835
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables	1,642	1,428
Other assets	657	609
Total assets	48,777	48,995
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,112	763
Accrued liabilities	4,617	3,958
Total current liabilities	5,729	4,721
Intercompany payables	9,666	9,429
Other liabilities	2,532	2,699
Total liabilities	17,927	16,849
ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity
Total ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity	30,850	32,146
Total equity	30,850	32,146
Total liabilities and equity	48,777	48,995
Consolidation and Elimination Adjustments [Member]
Current assets:
Current portion of intercompany receivables	(65,443)
Total current assets	(65,443)
Investments in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables	(409,148)	(441,560)
Total assets	(474,591)	(441,560)
Current liabilities:
Current portion of intercompany payables	(65,443)
Total current liabilities	(65,443)
Intercompany payables	(11,316)	(15,319)
Total liabilities	(76,759)	(15,319)
ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity
Total ViaSat, Inc. stockholders' equity	(402,087)	(430,459)
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	4,255	4,218
Total equity	(397,832)	(426,241)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (474,591)	$ (441,560)