Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues:
Product revenues	$ 168,475	$ 146,611	$ 316,204	$ 269,157
Service revenues	114,347	76,413	208,381	148,968
Total revenues	282,822	223,024	524,585	418,125
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	121,421	107,909	230,470	200,194
Cost of service revenues	95,382	54,204	173,951	103,520
Selling, general and administrative	54,079	44,379	110,580	86,112
Independent research and development	8,758	6,809	16,127	12,503
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	4,041	4,767	8,105	9,539
Income (loss) from operations	(859)	4,956	(14,648)	6,257
Other income (expense):
Interest income	45	13	105	39
Interest expense	(11,553)	(211)	(23,099)	(211)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(12,367)	4,758	(37,642)	6,085
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(4,510)	(3,411)	(15,352)	(3,678)
Net (loss) income	(7,857)	8,169	(22,290)	9,763
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	50	194	37	29
Net income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	(7,907)	7,975	(22,327)	9,734
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	(6,879)	6,380	(22,000)	8,319
Issuing Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Product revenues	161,137	135,843	304,311	254,756
Service revenues	51,668	21,988	89,028	39,685
Total revenues	212,805	157,831	393,339	294,441
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	116,382	100,366	222,707	189,930
Cost of service revenues	37,012	14,580	61,366	25,472
Selling, general and administrative	30,600	29,919	61,743	56,534
Independent research and development	8,272	6,592	15,363	11,957
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	274	970	549	1,940
Income (loss) from operations	20,265	5,404	31,611	8,608
Other income (expense):
Interest income	44	112	102	245
Interest expense	(11,537)	(152)	(23,058)	(152)
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,772	5,364	8,655	8,701
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	3,522	(3,443)	2,202	(3,463)
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	(13,157)	(1,414)	(28,780)	(3,315)
Net (loss) income	(7,907)	7,393	(22,327)	8,849
Net income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	(7,907)	7,393	(22,327)	8,849
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	(6,879)	5,798	(22,000)	7,434
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Product revenues	2,975	926	3,506	1,578
Service revenues	59,803	51,638	114,387	104,989
Total revenues	62,778	52,564	117,893	106,567
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	2,028	785	2,110	1,542
Cost of service revenues	56,556	38,321	109,481	75,457
Selling, general and administrative	20,747	11,983	43,722	25,060
Independent research and development	360		510
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	3,238	3,239	6,476	6,477
Income (loss) from operations	(20,151)	(1,764)	(44,406)	(1,969)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(16)	(59)	(36)	(59)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(20,167)	(1,823)	(44,442)	(2,028)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(7,978)	(732)	(17,367)	(822)
Net (loss) income	(12,189)	(1,091)	(27,075)	(1,206)
Net income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	(12,189)	(1,091)	(27,075)	(1,206)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	(12,189)	(1,091)	(27,075)	(1,206)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Product revenues	4,481	9,917	8,609	13,167
Service revenues	3,261	3,187	5,739	5,413
Total revenues	7,742	13,104	14,348	18,580
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	3,121	7,892	5,843	10,465
Cost of service revenues	2,199	1,701	3,877	3,659
Selling, general and administrative	2,732	2,477	5,115	4,521
Independent research and development	134	234	286	572
Amortization of acquired intangible assets	529	558	1,080	1,122
Income (loss) from operations	(973)	242	(1,853)	(1,759)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	1	2	3	4
Interest expense		(101)	(5)	(210)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(972)	143	(1,855)	(1,965)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(54)	272	(187)	115
Net (loss) income	(918)	(129)	(1,668)	(2,080)
Net income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	(918)	(129)	(1,668)	(2,080)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	54	(1,131)	(1,421)	(2,639)
Consolidation and Elimination Adjustments [Member]
Revenues:
Product revenues	(118)	(75)	(222)	(344)
Service revenues	(385)	(400)	(773)	(1,119)
Total revenues	(503)	(475)	(995)	(1,463)
Operating expenses:
Cost of product revenues	(110)	(1,134)	(190)	(1,743)
Cost of service revenues	(385)	(398)	(773)	(1,068)
Selling, general and administrative				(3)
Independent research and development	(8)	(17)	(32)	(26)
Income (loss) from operations		1,074		1,377
Other income (expense):
Interest income		(101)		(210)
Interest expense		101		210
Income (loss) before income taxes		1,074		1,377
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		492		492
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries	13,157	1,414	28,780	3,315
Net (loss) income	13,157	1,996	28,780	4,200
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	50	194	37	29
Net income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	13,107	1,802	28,743	4,171
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to ViaSat, Inc.	$ 12,135	$ 2,804	$ 28,496	$ 4,730