Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets - Allocated by Reportable Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 23, 2016	Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 23, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 7,281		$ 7,281		$ 7,002	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses		(629)		(629)		(442)
Balance				6,560
Business acquisitions	[2]			199
Business divestitures	[3]			(12)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	[4]			92
Impairment charges	[5]	(187)	$ 0	(187)	$ 0
Balance		6,652		6,652
Goodwill impairment after income taxes				133
Electronic Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		2,862		2,862		2,687	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses		(43)		(43)		(43)
Balance				2,644
Business acquisitions	[2]			129
Business divestitures	[3]			(12)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	[4]			58
Impairment charges				0
Balance		2,819		2,819
Aerospace Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		1,715		1,715		1,698	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses		(525)		(525)		(338)
Balance				1,360
Business acquisitions	[2]			0
Business divestitures	[3]			0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	[4]			17
Impairment charges				(187)
Balance		1,190		1,190
Communication Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		1,058		1,058		1,058	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses		(35)		(35)		(35)
Balance				1,023
Business acquisitions	[2]			0
Business divestitures	[3]			0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	[4]			0
Impairment charges				0
Balance		1,023		1,023
Sensor Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		1,646		1,646		1,559	[1]
Accumulated impairment losses		(26)		(26)		$ (26)
Balance				1,533
Business acquisitions	[2]			70
Business divestitures	[3]			0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	[4]			17
Impairment charges				0
Balance		$ 1,620		$ 1,620

[1] The business realignment during the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 in the Electronic Systems segment resulted in a reallocation of goodwill due to changes in reporting units. Goodwill was reallocated to the affected reporting units based upon their relative fair value. The changes to reporting units did not result in a goodwill impairment of any reporting unit.

[2] The increase for the Electronic Systems segment was due to the acquisitions of the ETD and Doss Aviation businesses and the purchase price allocation adjustments for the MacH and Aerosim business acquisitions. The increase for the Sensor Systems segment was primarily due to the Adaptive Methods, Open Water Power and OceanServer business acquisitions.

[3] The decrease for the Electronic Systems segment was due to the divestitures of Coleman and Aviation Jet Services during the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017.

[4] The increase in the Electronic Systems segment was due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound and the Canadian dollar during the year-to-date period ended September 29, 2017. The increase in the Aerospace Systems segment was due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar during the year-to-date period ended September 29, 2017. The increase in the Sensor Systems segment was due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, the British pound and the Australian dollar during the year-to-date period ended September 29, 2017.

[5] Represents a goodwill impairment charge recorded during the third quarter of 2017 related to Vertex Aerospace. See Note 8 for additional information.