Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$ 144,691	$ 126,699
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		65,476	75,498
Impairment of assets held for sale		37,902
Net (gain) loss on sales of assets	[1]	(13,557)	200
Stock-based compensation		13,475	13,166
Deferred income taxes		135	(7,271)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable		(521)	(32,758)
Unbilled receivables (contract assets)		(50,624)	(21,312)
Costs to fulfill a contract		(15,064)	(15,256)
Inventories		(28,982)	(43,517)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(78,878)	34,292
Contract liabilities		13,673	24,500
Income taxes		(30,331)	(10,830)
Retirement benefit obligations		(2,152)	(2,148)
Other		(3,064)	(309)
Net cash provided by operating activities		52,179	140,954
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for purchase of property, plant, and equipment		(29,361)	(54,341)
Proceeds from sale of assets		18,831	271
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments		12,684	10,259
Payments for purchases of short-term investments		(23)	(970)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		2,131	(44,781)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid		(27,525)	(18,914)
Proceeds from sales of treasury stock		12,726	24,150
Payments for repurchases of common stock		(13,346)	(39,049)
Borrowings on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings		788,306	865,617
Payments on revolving lines of credit and short-term borrowings		(807,869)	(844,262)
Payments of long-term debt and finance lease obligations		(754)	(100,265)
Net cash used in financing activities		(48,462)	(112,723)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(2,072)	(1,741)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		3,776	(18,291)
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at beginning of year		99,073	83,594
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at end of period		$ 102,849	$ 65,303

[1] Included in net (gain) loss on sale of assets for the six-months ended March 31, 2020 was the pre-tax gain on sale of Duarte real property in the amount of $13,522 recognized in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020.