Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 1,222,494	$ 1,153,424
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(799,930)	(795,954)
Property, plant and equipment, net	422,564	357,470	$ 395,113
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs	16,600	16,600	17,400
Depreciation expense	58,106	52,974	56,575
Software amortization	4,000	6,500	6,200
Capital expenditures and purchased software	78,516	50,595	58,873
Unamortized software cost	7,200	9,600
Asset held for sale real property		4,988
Harris Corporation's Composite Aerostructures Division [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(900)
Property plant and equipment	62,800
Land and Land Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 13,339	14,307
Estimated useful life	25 years
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 214,086	211,027
Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	25 years
Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	40 years
Assets under capital lease [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 8,140
Estimated useful life	7 years
Assets under capital lease [Member] | Harris Corporation's Composite Aerostructures Division [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 8,100
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 842,921	828,409
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	15 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 7,632	6,074
Estimated useful life	5 years
Computer and Other Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 15,264	14,813
Computer and Other Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Computer and Other Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 54,212	52,503
Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years
Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	8 years
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 66,900	$ 26,291