Net Sales By Customer (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 24, 2012		Mar. 25, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 25, 2011		Jun. 26, 2011		Mar. 27, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 12,099	$ 11,869	[1]	$ 11,921	[1]	$ 11,293	[1]	$ 12,211	[1]	$ 12,119	[1]	$ 11,543	[1]	$ 10,626	[1]	$ 47,182		$ 46,499		$ 45,671
Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																14,953		14,362		13,109
Information Systems & Global Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																8,846		9,381		9,921
Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																7,457		7,463		6,930
Mission Systems and Training
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																7,579		7,132		7,443
Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																8,347		8,161		8,268
U.S. Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																38,788		38,001		38,860
U.S. Government | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																11,587		10,749		10,623
U.S. Government | Information Systems & Global Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																8,340		8,769		9,488
U.S. Government | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																5,224		5,455		5,422
U.S. Government | Mission Systems and Training
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																5,685		5,180		5,301
U.S. Government | Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																7,952		7,848		8,026
International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																8,056	[2]	8,068	[2]	6,437	[2]
International | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																3,323	[2]	3,577	[2]	2,458	[2]
International | Information Systems & Global Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																380	[2]	464	[2]	320	[2]
International | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																2,208	[2]	1,977	[2]	1,480	[2]
International | Mission Systems and Training
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																1,826	[2]	1,906	[2]	2,082	[2]
International | Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																319	[2]	144	[2]	97	[2]
United States Commercial and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																338		430		374
United States Commercial and Other | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																43		36		28
United States Commercial and Other | Information Systems & Global Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																126		148		113
United States Commercial and Other | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																25		31		28
United States Commercial and Other | Mission Systems and Training
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																68		46		60
United States Commercial and Other | Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																$ 76		$ 169		$ 145

[1] Operating profit varies from the amounts previously reported on Forms 10-Q as a result of the reclassification of net gains from securities held in a separate trust from other non-operating income (expense), net to cost of sales in the fourth quarter of 2012 (Note 1).

[2] Sales made to other governments through the U.S. Government (i.e., foreign military sales) are included in the "International" category.