Retirement Benefits (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Amount of Expense Associated with Defined Contribution Plans

The amount of expense associated with defined contribution plans was as follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2022		2021		2020
Company costs	$	40,898	$	33,717	$	33,769

Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

Net periodic benefit costs consist of the following components reflected as expense in Woodward’s Consolidated Statement of Earnings:

	Year Ended September 30,
	United States									Other Countries									Total
	2022			2021			2020			2022			2021			2020			2022			2021			2020
Service cost	$	1,554		$	1,729		$	1,659		$	2,339		$	2,922		$	2,865		$	3,893		$	4,651		$	4,524
Interest cost		5,281			4,957			5,590			1,612			1,361			1,278			6,893			6,318			6,868
Expected return on plan assets		(10,853	)		(14,144	)		(12,346	)		(2,434	)		(2,482	)		(2,827	)		(13,287	)		(16,626	)		(15,173	)
Amortization of:
Net losses		259			541			1,430			555			931			1,046			814			1,472			2,476
Net prior service cost		981			969			936			23			25			23			1,004			994			959
Net periodic (benefit) cost	$	(2,778	)	$	(5,948	)	$	(2,731	)	$	2,095		$	2,757		$	2,385		$	(683	)	$	(3,191	)	$	(346	)

Schedule of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets, and Funded Status of Plan

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the projected benefit obligation and fair value of assets for the defined benefit pension plans:

	At or for the Year Ended September 30,
	United States						Other Countries						Total
	2022			2021			2022			2021			2022			2021
Changes in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	177,346		$	184,077		$	122,018		$	123,546		$	299,364		$	307,623
Plan amendment		—			611			—			—			—			611
Service cost		1,554			1,729			2,339			2,922			3,893			4,651
Interest cost		5,281			4,957			1,612			1,361			6,893			6,318
Net actuarial losses (gains)		(43,639	)		(6,496	)		(40,968	)		(3,459	)		(84,607	)		(9,955	)
Contribution by participants		—			—			10			10			10			10
Benefits paid		(8,098	)		(7,532	)		(3,487	)		(3,782	)		(11,585	)		(11,314	)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		—			—			(16,047	)		1,420			(16,047	)		1,420
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	132,444		$	177,346		$	65,477		$	122,018		$	197,921		$	299,364
Changes in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	221,263		$	201,555		$	69,844		$	65,154		$	291,107		$	266,709
Actual return on plan assets		(58,684	)		27,240			(9,822	)		4,675			(68,506	)		31,915
Contributions by the Company		—			—			2,370			2,185			2,370			2,185
Contributions by plan participants		—			—			10			10			10			10
Benefits paid		(8,098	)		(7,532	)		(3,487	)		(3,782	)		(11,585	)		(11,314	)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		—			—			(11,336	)		1,602			(11,336	)		1,602
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	154,481		$	221,263		$	47,579		$	69,844		$	202,060		$	291,107
Net over/(under) funded status at end of year	$	22,037		$	43,917		$	(17,898	)	$	(52,174	)	$	4,139		$	(8,257	)

Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations In Excess of and Less Than Fair Value of Plan Assets

	Plans with accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets						Plans with accumulated benefit obligation less than plan assets
	At September 30,						At September 30,
	2022			2021			2022			2021
Projected benefit obligation	$	(48,371	)	$	(112,302	)	$	(149,550	)	$	(187,062	)
Accumulated benefit obligation		(48,354	)		(111,151	)		(148,571	)		(186,245	)
Fair value of plan assets		18,459			57,945			183,601			233,161

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following tables provide the amounts recognized in the statement of financial position and accumulated other comprehensive losses for the defined benefit pension plans:

	Year Ended September 30,
	United States						Other Countries						Total
	2022			2021			2022			2021			2022			2021
Amounts recognized in statement of financial position consist of:
Other non-current assets	$	24,159		$	43,917		$	9,892		$	2,182		$	34,051		$	46,099
Accrued liabilities		—			—			(976	)		(1,017	)		(976	)		(1,017	)
Other non-current liabilities		(2,122	)		—			(26,814	)		(53,339	)		(28,936	)		(53,339	)
Net over/(under) funded status at end of year	$	22,037		$	43,917		$	(17,898	)	$	(52,174	)	$	4,139		$	(8,257	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Unrecognized net prior service cost	$	3,475		$	4,455		$	462		$	584		$	3,937		$	5,039
Unrecognized net losses (gains)		14,822			(10,816	)		(5,459	)		24,860			9,363			14,044
Total amounts recognized		18,297			(6,361	)		(4,997	)		25,444			13,300			19,083
Deferred taxes		(7,801	)		(1,691	)		(697	)		(7,785	)		(8,498	)		(9,476	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	$	10,496		$	(8,052	)	$	(5,694	)	$	17,659		$	4,802		$	9,607

Schedule of Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table reconciles the changes in accumulated other comprehensive losses for the defined benefit pension plans:

	Year Ended September 30,
	United States						Other Countries						Total
	2022			2021			2022			2021			2022			2021
Accumulated other comprehensive losses at beginning of year	$	(6,361	)	$	14,131		$	25,444		$	31,377		$	19,083		$	45,508
Net loss (gain)		25,898			(19,593	)		(28,712	)		(5,832	)		(2,814	)		(25,425	)
Prior service cost due to plan amendment		—			611			—			—			—			611
Amortization of:
Net losses		(259	)		(541	)		(555	)		(931	)		(814	)		(1,472	)
Prior service cost		(981	)		(969	)		(23	)		(25	)		(1,004	)		(994	)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes		—			—			(1,151	)		855			(1,151	)		855
Accumulated other comprehensive losses at end of year	$	18,297		$	(6,361	)	$	(4,997	)	$	25,444		$	13,300		$	19,083

Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments

Pension benefit payments are made from the assets of the pension plans. The German pension plans are unfunded; therefore, benefit payments are made from Company contributions into these plans as required to meet the payment obligations. Using foreign exchange rates as of September 30, 2022 and expected future service assumptions, it is anticipated that the future benefit payments will be as follows:

Year Ending September 30,	United States		Other Countries		Total
2023	$	8,839	$	3,184	$	12,023
2024		9,310		3,083		12,393
2025		9,673		3,060		12,733
2026		9,967		3,069		13,036
2027		10,235		3,180		13,415
2028 – 2032		52,807		19,239		72,046

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets, Actual and Target Allocations

The asset allocations are monitored and rebalanced regularly by investment managers assigned to the individual pension plans.  The actual allocations of pension plan assets and target allocation ranges by asset class, are as follows:

	At September 30,
	2022				2021
	Percentage of Plan Assets	Target Allocation Ranges			Percentage of Plan Assets	Target Allocation Ranges
United States:
Asset Class
Equity Securities	29.5%	2.4%	—	51.2%	30.7%	2.5%	—	51.2%
Debt Securities	69.0%	58.8%	—	87.6%	67.7%	58.8%	—	87.5%
Other	1.5%	0.0%			1.6%	0.0%
	100.0%				100.0%
United Kingdom:
Asset Class
Equity Securities	46.2%	50.0%	—	90.0%	42.3%	50.0%	—	90.0%
Debt Securities	52.3%	45.0%	—	70.0%	57.3%	45.0%	—	70.0%
Other	1.5%	0.0%			0.4%	0.0%
	100.0%				100.0%
Japan:
Asset Class
Equity Securities	39.9%	36.0%	—	44.0%	40.3%	36.0%	—	44.0%
Debt Securities	60.1%	55.0%	—	63.0%	58.8%	55.0%	—	63.0%
Other	0.0%	0.0%	—	2.0%	0.9%	0.0%	—	2.0%
	100.0%				100.0%

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets, Fair Value Hierarchy

The following tables present Woodward’s pension plan assets using the fair value hierarchy established by U.S. GAAP:

	At September 30, 2022
	Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
	United States		Other Countries		United States		Other Countries		United States		Other Countries		Total
Asset Category:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,265	$	467	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	2,732
Mutual funds:
U.S. corporate bond fund		106,653		—		—		—		—		—		106,653
U.S. equity large cap fund		28,088		—		—		—		—		—		28,088
International equity large cap growth fund		17,475		—		—		—		—		—		17,475
Pooled funds:
Japanese equity securities		—		—		—		1,775		—		—		1,775
International equity securities		—		—		—		1,610		—		—		1,610
Japanese fixed income securities		—		—		—		3,875		—		—		3,875
International fixed income securities		—		—		—		1,325		—		—		1,325
Global target return equity/bond fund		—		—		—		11,533		—		—		11,533
Index linked U.K. equity fund		—		—		—		2,253		—		—		2,253
Index linked international equity fund		—		—		—		4,271		—		—		4,271
Index linked U.K. corporate bonds fund		—		—		—		12,124		—		—		12,124
Index linked U.K. government securities fund		—		—		—		3,701		—		—		3,701
Index linked U.K. long-term government securities fund		—		—		—		4,645		—		—		4,645
Total assets	$	154,481	$	467	$	—	$	47,112	$	—	$	—	$	202,060

	At September 30, 2021
	Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
	United States		Other Countries		United States		Other Countries		United States		Other Countries		Total
Asset Category:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,508	$	324	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	3,832
Mutual funds:
U.S. corporate bond fund		149,727		—		—		—		—		—		149,727
U.S. equity large cap fund		41,988		—		—		—		—		—		41,988
International equity large cap growth fund		26,040		—		—		—		—		—		26,040
Pooled funds:
Japanese equity securities		—		—		—		2,610		—		—		2,610
International equity securities		—		—		—		2,180		—		—		2,180
Japanese fixed income securities		—		—		—		5,224		—		—		5,224
International fixed income securities		—		—		—		1,775		—		—		1,775
Global target return equity/bond fund		—		—		—		15,201		—		—		15,201
Index linked U.K. equity fund		—		—		—		3,236		—		—		3,236
Index linked international equity fund		—		—		—		6,093		—		—		6,093
Index linked U.K. corporate bonds fund		—		—		—		18,438		—		—		18,438
Index linked U.K. government securities fund		—		—		—		6,047		—		—		6,047
Index linked U.K. long-term government securities fund		—		—		—		8,716		—		—		8,716
Total assets	$	221,263	$	324	$	—	$	69,520	$	—	$	—	$	291,107

Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions Used

The actuarial assumptions used in measuring the net periodic benefit cost and plan obligations of postretirement benefits were as follows:

	At September 30,
	2022			2021			2020
Weighted-average discount rate used to determine benefit obligation		5.70	%		2.80	%		2.45	%
Weighted-average discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost		2.80			2.45			3.05

Schedule of Net Periodic Benefit Costs

Net periodic benefit costs consist of the following components reflected as expense in Woodward’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2022			2021		2020
Service cost	$	1		$	1	$	2
Interest cost		577			599		782
Amortization of:
Net (gain) loss		(94	)		30		47
Net prior service cost (benefit)		—			1		3
Net periodic cost	$	484		$	631	$	834

Schedule of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets, and Funded Status of Plan

The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and fair value of assets for the postretirement benefits:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2022			2021
Changes in accumulated postretirement benefit obligation:
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	21,544		$	25,445
Service cost		1			1
Interest cost		577			599
Premiums paid by plan participants		923			993
Net actuarial gains		(3,504	)		(2,422	)
Benefits paid		(2,744	)		(3,072	)
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation at end of year	$	16,797		$	21,544
Changes in fair value of plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	—		$	—
Contributions by the company		1,821			2,079
Premiums paid by plan participants		923			993
Benefits paid		(2,744	)		(3,072	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	—		$	—
Funded status at end of year	$	(16,797	)	$	(21,544	)

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following tables provide the amounts recognized in the statement of financial position and accumulated other comprehensive losses for the postretirement plans:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2022			2021
Amounts recognized in statement of financial position consist of:
Accrued liabilities	$	(1,803	)	$	(1,808	)
Other non-current liabilities		(14,994	)		(19,736	)
Funded status at end of year	$	(16,797	)	$	(21,544	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of:
Unrecognized net prior service cost (benefit)	$	-		$	-
Unrecognized net gains		(6,225	)		(2,815	)
Total amounts recognized		(6,225	)		(2,815	)
Deferred taxes		1,247			289
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	$	(4,978	)	$	(2,526	)

Schedule of Changes in Plan Assets and Benefit Obligations Recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table reconciles the changes in accumulated other comprehensive losses for the other postretirement benefit plans:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2022			2021
Accumulated other comprehensive losses at beginning of year	$	(2,815	)	$	(362	)
Net gain		(3,504	)		(2,422	)
Amortization of:
Net gains (losses)		94			(30	)
Prior service cost		—			(1	)
Accumulated other comprehensive losses at end of year	$	(6,225	)	$	(2,815	)

Schedule of Health Care Cost Trend Rates

Assumed healthcare cost trend rates at September 30, were as follows:

	2022			2021
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year		6.00	%		6.00	%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline
(the ultimate trend rate)		5.00	%		5.00	%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate	2027			2027

Schedule of Future Postretirement Company Contributions

Using expected future service, it is anticipated that the future Company contributions to pay benefits for other postretirement benefit plans, excluding participate contributions, will be as follows:

Year Ending September 30,
2023	$	2,816
2024		2,765
2025		2,691
2026		2,602
2027		2,490
2028 – 2032		10,659

United States [Member] | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions Used

The actuarial assumptions used in measuring the net periodic benefit cost and plan obligations of retirement pension benefits were as follows:

	At September 30,
	2022		2021		2020
United States:
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation:
Discount rate	5.70%		3.05%		2.75%
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs:
Discount rate		3.05		2.75		3.25
Long-term rate of return on plan assets		5.00		7.15		7.39

United Kingdom | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions Used

	At September 30,
	2022		2021		2020
United Kingdom:
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation:
Discount rate	5.35%		2.05%		1.62%
Rate of compensation increase		4.00		3.80		3.30
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs:
Discount rate - service cost		2.15		1.71		1.79
Discount rate - interest cost		1.83		1.41		1.59
Rate of compensation increase		4.00		3.30		3.50
Long-term rate of return on plan assets		3.80		4.00		4.75

Japan | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions Used

	At September 30,
	2022		2021		2020
Japan:
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation:
Discount rate	1.60%		0.92%			1.10	%
Rate of compensation increase		2.00		2.00		2.00
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs:
Discount rate - service cost		1.13		1.33		0.72
Discount rate - interest cost		0.65		0.74		0.31
Rate of compensation increase		2.25		2.00		2.00
Long-term rate of return on plan assets		2.00		2.00		2.50

Germany [Member] | Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions Used

	At September 30,
	2022			2021			2020
Germany:
Weighted-average assumptions to determine benefit obligation:
Discount rate		3.97	%		1.36	%		0.97	%
Rate of compensation increase		2.50			2.50			2.50
Weighted-average assumptions to determine periodic benefit costs:
Discount rate - service cost		1.54			1.11			1.01
Discount rate - interest cost		1.06			0.76			0.56
Rate of compensation increase		2.50			2.50			2.50