Other Liabilities (Schedule of Other Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Other Liabilities Noncurrent [Abstract]
Net accrued retirement benefits, less amounts recognized within accrued liabilities		$ 116,694	$ 114,013
Total unrecognized tax benefits		13,758	10,230
Noncurrent income taxes payable		16,388	18,322
Deferred economic incentives	[1]	8,594	9,105
Cross-currency swap derivative liability		71,421	51,387
Operating lease liabilities		17,178	14,569
Net noncurrent contract liabilities		376,806	366,642
Other		25,061	33,637
Other liabilities		$ 645,900	$ 617,905

[1] Woodward receives certain economic incentives from various state and local authorities related to capital expansion projects.  Such amounts are initially recorded as deferred credits and are being recognized as a reduction to pre-tax expense over the economic lives of the related capital expansion projects.