Summary of Financial Information for Each Business Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Aeronautics	Sep. 29, 2013 Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments	Dec. 31, 2012 Business segments	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Aeronautics	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Aeronautics	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Aeronautics	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Aeronautics	Dec. 31, 2012 Business segments Aeronautics	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Information Systems & Global Solutions	Dec. 31, 2012 Business segments Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Missiles and Fire Control	Dec. 31, 2012 Business segments Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Mission Systems and Training	Dec. 31, 2012 Business segments Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Space Systems	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Space Systems	Sep. 29, 2013 Business segments Space Systems	Sep. 30, 2012 Business segments Space Systems	Dec. 31, 2012 Business segments Space Systems	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Aeronautics	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Aeronautics	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Aeronautics	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Aeronautics	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Information Systems & Global Solutions	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Missiles and Fire Control	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Mission Systems and Training	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Space Systems	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Space Systems	Sep. 29, 2013 Intersegment elimination Space Systems	Sep. 30, 2012 Intersegment elimination Space Systems	Sep. 29, 2013 Corporate		Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 11,347		$ 11,869		$ 33,825		$ 35,083					$ 11,347	$ 11,869	$ 33,825	$ 35,083		$ 3,632	$ 3,698	$ 10,225	$ 10,812		$ 2,059	$ 2,292	$ 6,266	$ 6,645		$ 2,003	$ 1,951	$ 6,034	$ 5,560		$ 1,698	$ 1,862	$ 5,298	$ 5,719		$ 1,955	$ 2,066	$ 6,002	$ 6,347
Severance charges			(23)	[1]	(30)	[1]	(23)	[1]		(25)	(30)
Other unallocated expenses, net	(201)	[2]	(274)	[2]	(630)	[2]	(848)	[2]
Operating profit	1,254		1,137		3,671		3,373					1,455	1,434	4,331	4,244		412	415	1,198	1,254		187	209	570	605		356	300	1,081	984		216	198	692	550		284	312	790	851
Total intersegment sales																																										559	618	1,673	1,780	53	55	152	145	160	231	523	659	72	70	196	225	249	230	728	667	25	32	74	84
Total assets	$ 38,907				$ 38,907				$ 38,657			$ 26,815		$ 26,815		$ 26,442	$ 6,556		$ 6,556		$ 6,525	$ 5,811		$ 5,811		$ 5,664	$ 4,259		$ 4,259		$ 4,186	$ 6,724		$ 6,724		$ 6,589	$ 3,465		$ 3,465		$ 3,478																									$ 12,092	[3]	$ 12,215	[3]

[1] Severance charges during the nine months ended September 29, 2013 consisted of amounts, net of state tax benefits, associated with the elimination of certain positions at our IS&GS business segment during the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Severance charges during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012 consisted of amounts, net of state tax benefits, associated with the elimination of certain positions at our former Electronic Systems business segment (Note 8, under the caption "Severance Activities"). Severance charges for initiatives that are not significant are included in business segment operating profit.

[2] Other unallocated expenses, net for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012 includes amounts related to discontinued operations that are not significant.

[3] Corporate assets primarily include cash and cash equivalents, deferred income taxes, environmental receivables, and investments held in a separate trust.