Equity	3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2012
Equity [Abstract]
Equity	12. Equity On April 26, 2011, L-3 Holdings’ Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program that authorizes L-3 Holdings to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock through April 30, 2013. Repurchases of L-3 Holdings common stock under the share repurchase programs, approved by the Board of Directors, are made at management’s discretion in accordance with applicable U.S. federal securities laws in the open market or otherwise. The timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial position, earnings, legal requirements, other investment opportunities (including acquisitions), market conditions and other factors. All share repurchases of L-3 Holdings common stock have been recorded as treasury shares. L-3 Holdings repurchased 2.0 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $69.45 per share for an aggregate amount of approximately $138 million from January 1, 2012 through March 30, 2012. At March 30, 2012, the remaining dollar value under the $1.5 billion share repurchase program was $995 million. From March 31, 2012 through May 7, 2012, L-3 Holdings repurchased 1,030,879 shares of its common stock at an average price of $69.68 per share for an aggregate amount of $72 million. On April 24, 2012, L-3 Holdings’ Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share, payable on June 15, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 17, 2012.

Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2012

12. Equity

On April 26, 2011, L-3 Holdings’ Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program that authorizes L-3 Holdings to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock through April 30, 2013. Repurchases of L-3 Holdings common stock under the share repurchase programs, approved by the Board of Directors, are made at management’s discretion in accordance with applicable U.S. federal securities laws in the open market or otherwise. The timing and actual number of shares to be repurchased in the future will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial position, earnings, legal requirements, other investment opportunities (including acquisitions), market conditions and other factors. All share repurchases of L-3 Holdings common stock have been recorded as treasury shares. L-3 Holdings repurchased 2.0 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $69.45 per share for an aggregate amount of approximately $138 million from January 1, 2012 through March 30, 2012. At March 30, 2012, the remaining dollar value under the $1.5 billion share repurchase program was $995 million.

From March 31, 2012 through May 7, 2012, L-3 Holdings repurchased 1,030,879 shares of its common stock at an average price of $69.68 per share for an aggregate amount of $72 million.

On April 24, 2012, L-3 Holdings’ Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share, payable on June 15, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 17, 2012.