Segment Information - Summary of Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total products sales									$ 7,535	$ 7,552	$ 7,580
Total services sales									5,611	5,606	5,810
Consolidated total									13,146	13,158	13,390
Operating Income
Impairment charge										43
Operating income	364	331	331	325	354	359	350	336	1,351	1,399	1,485
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization									228	230	212
Capital Expenditures
Capital Expenditures									210	187	178
Total Assets
Assets of discontinued operations					1,729					1,729	1,762
Total Assets	13,826				15,508				13,826	15,508	15,451
Electronic Systems [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total products sales									4,745	4,737	4,872
Total services sales									1,111	1,037	1,020
Operating Income
Impairment charge										43
Operating income									672	719	794
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization									147	148	133
Capital Expenditures
Capital Expenditures									96	97	106
Total Assets
Total Assets	8,062				7,559				8,062	7,559	7,812
C3ISR [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total products sales									2,002	2,005	1,867
Total services sales									1,610	1,488	1,390
Operating Income
Operating income									364	394	365
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization									47	44	41
Capital Expenditures
Capital Expenditures									92	71	62
Total Assets
Total Assets	2,030				2,017				2,030	2,017	1,919
AM&M [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total products sales									813	751	811
Total services sales									1,919	1,898	2,220
Operating Income
Operating income									236	228	225
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization									20	19	19
Capital Expenditures
Capital Expenditures									15	13	6
Total Assets
Total Assets	1,997				1,929				1,997	1,929	1,962
NSS [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total products sales									98	153	187
Total services sales									1,292	1,465	1,458
Operating Income
Operating income									79	101	101
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization									14	19	19
Capital Expenditures
Capital Expenditures									5	5	4
Total Assets
Total Assets	1,228				1,317				1,228	1,317	1,418
Elimination of intercompany sales [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Total products sales									(123)	(94)	(157)
Total services sales									(321)	(282)	(278)
Segment Total [Member]
Operating Income
Operating income									1,351	1,442	1,485
Corporate [Member]
Capital Expenditures
Capital Expenditures									2	1
Total Assets
Total Assets	$ 509				$ 957				$ 509	$ 957	$ 578