Impact of Adoption of New Standards Impact of Adoption of New Standards (Schedule of Accounting Changes) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2015
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Value		$ 51,781		$ 51,781		$ 43,454
Additional Paid in Capital		6,714		6,714		6,804
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues		25,146	$ 24,223	72,786	$ 69,235
Financing Interest Expense		18	27	51	53
Cost of Revenue		(21,040)	(19,956)	(59,400)	(56,731)
Gross Profit		4,106	4,267	13,386	12,504
Income from operating investments, net		32	49	112	169
General and Administrative Expense		(1,154)	(918)	(3,345)	(2,890)
Research and Development Expense		(826)	(768)	(2,417)	(2,417)
(Gain)/Loss on dispositions, net		(69)		(76)
Earnings from operations		2,227	2,630	7,812	7,366
Other income, net		12	40	63	91
Interest and Debt Expense		(106)	(87)	(317)	(267)
Earnings before income taxes		2,133	2,583	7,558	7,190
Income tax (expense)/benefit		230	(773)	(522)	(2,052)
Net earnings		$ 2,363	$ 1,810	$ 7,036	$ 5,138
Earnings Per Share, Basic		$ 4.11	$ 3.03	$ 12.08	$ 8.49
Earnings Per Share, Diluted		$ 4.07	$ 2.99	$ 11.95	$ 8.39
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 8,034	$ 8,569	$ 8,034	$ 8,569	8,813
Short-term and other investments		1,956		1,956		1,179
Accounts receivable, net		2,893		2,893		2,894
Unbilled receivables, net		9,936		9,936		8,194
Current portion of customer financing, net		431		431		309
Inventories		62,038		62,038		61,388
Other current assets		2,398		2,398		2,417
Assets, Current		87,686		87,686		85,194
Customer financing, net		2,785		2,785		2,756
Property, plant and equipment, net		12,571		12,571		12,672
Goodwill		5,722		5,722		5,559
Acquired intangible assets, net		2,530		2,530		2,573
Deferred income taxes		323		323		321
Investments		1,190		1,190		1,260
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization		1,852		1,852		2,027
Assets		114,659		114,659		112,362
Liabilities and equity
Accounts payable		13,663		13,663		12,202
Accrued liabilities		12,869		12,869		13,069
Advances and billings in excess of related costs
Advances and progress billings		51,496		51,496		48,042
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt		1,389		1,389		1,335
Total current liabilities		79,417		79,417		74,648
Deferred income taxes		1,738		1,738		2,188
Accrued retiree health care		5,394		5,394		5,545
Accrued pension plan liability, net		15,927		15,927		16,471
Other long-term liabilities		2,905		2,905		2,015
Long-term debt		10,487		10,487		9,782
Retained earnings		54,666		54,666		49,618
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	[1]	(15,949)	(13,036)	(15,949)	(13,036)	(16,373)	$ (13,623)	$ (16,139)	$ (13,234)
Total shareholders’ equity		(1,289)		(1,289)		1,656
Total equity		(1,209)	2,258	(1,209)	2,258	1,713	1,917
Total liabilities and equity		114,659		114,659		112,362
Cash flows - operation activities:
Net earnings		2,363	1,810	7,036	5,138
Non-cash items -
Share-based plans expense				150	151
Depreciation and amortization				1,531	1,470
Asset Impairment Charges				63	75
Customer financing valuation (benefit)/expense				(3)	4
Gain on dispositions, net		69		76
Other charges and credits, net				158	196
Changes in assets and liabilities -
Accounts receivable				10	(558)
Unbilled receivables				(1,732)	(1,805)
Advances and progress billings				3,457	4,714
Inventories				(173)	(800)
Other current assets				(5)	(337)
Accounts payable				1,181	780
Accrued liabilities				890	(102)
Advances and billings in excess of related costs
Income taxes receivable, payable and deferred				(252)	1,507
Other long-term liabilities				1	25
Pension and other postretirement plans				(89)	(550)
Customer financing, net				(175)	634
Other				403	(99)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities				12,375	10,443
Cash flows - investing activities:
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment				1,227	1,304
Property, plant and equipment reductions				117	30
Contributions to investments				(2,145)	(2,815)
Proceeds from investments				1,369	2,612
Purchase of distribution rights				(56)	(131)
Other				(5)	7
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities				(2,197)	(1,601)
Cash flows - financing activities:
New borrowings				4,696	876
Debt repayments				(4,029)	(83)
Stock options exercised				70	291
Employee taxes on certain share-based payment arrangements				(247)	(118)
Common shares repurchased				(8,415)	(7,500)
Dividends paid				(2,976)	(2,575)
Net cash used by financing activities				(10,866)	(9,109)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, including restricted				(37)	73
Net increase/(decrease) in cash & cash equivalents, including restricted				(725)	(194)
Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at beginning of year				8,887	8,869	8,869
Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at end of period		8,162	8,675	8,162	8,675	8,887	8,869
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	[2]	(128)	(106)	(128)	(106)	(74)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		8,034	8,569	8,034	8,569	8,813
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity		(1,209)	2,258	(1,209)	2,258	1,713	1,917
Common Stock [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity		5,061	5,061	5,061	5,061	5,061	5,061
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity		5,061	5,061	5,061	5,061	5,061	5,061
Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity		6,714	6,754	6,714	6,754	6,804	4,762
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity		6,714	6,754	6,714	6,754	6,804	4,762
Treasury Stock [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity		(51,781)	(41,745)	(51,781)	(41,745)	(43,454)	(36,097)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity		(51,781)	(41,745)	(51,781)	(41,745)	(43,454)	(36,097)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity		54,666	45,165	54,666	45,165	49,618	41,754
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity		54,666	45,165	54,666	45,165	49,618	41,754
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity		(15,949)	(13,036)	(15,949)	(13,036)	(16,373)	(13,623)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity		(15,949)	(13,036)	(15,949)	(13,036)	(16,373)	(13,623)
Non-Controlling Interest [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity		80	59	80	59	57	60
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity		80	59	80	59	57	60
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues			(86)		1,211
Cost of Revenue			31		(1,092)
Gross Profit			(55)		119
General and Administrative Expense			(3)		(2)
Research and Development Expense			(1)		1
Earnings from operations			(59)		118
Other income, net			(5)		(3)
Earnings before income taxes			(64)		115
Income tax (expense)/benefit			21		(42)
Net earnings			$ (43)		$ 73
Earnings Per Share, Basic			$ (0.07)		$ 0.12
Earnings Per Share, Diluted			$ (0.07)		$ 0.12
Assets [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, net						(7,622)
Unbilled receivables, net						8,194
Inventories						17,044
Other current assets						2,417
Assets, Current						20,033
Customer financing, net						16
Deferred income taxes						(20)
Assets						20,029
Liabilities and equity
Accrued liabilities						(2,223)
Advances and billings in excess of related costs						(27,440)
Advances and progress billings						48,042
Total current liabilities						18,379
Deferred income taxes						349
Retained earnings						4,298
Accumulated other comprehensive loss						(2,997)
Total shareholders’ equity						1,301
Total equity						1,301
Total liabilities and equity						20,029
Cash flows - operation activities:
Net earnings			$ (43)		$ 73
Non-cash items -
Depreciation and amortization					(17)
Other charges and credits, net					6
Changes in assets and liabilities -
Accounts receivable					1,425
Unbilled receivables					(1,805)
Advances and progress billings					4,714
Inventories					(1,054)
Other current assets					(337)
Accounts payable					2
Accrued liabilities					(214)
Advances and billings in excess of related costs					(2,828)
Income taxes receivable, payable and deferred					42
Customer financing, net					(1)
Other					(3)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities					3
Cash flows - investing activities:
Contributions to investments					32
Other					3
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities					35
Cash flows - financing activities:
Net increase/(decrease) in cash & cash equivalents, including restricted					38
Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at beginning of year					68	68
Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at end of period			106		106		68
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity						1,301
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net earnings						261	139
Cash flows - operation activities:
Net earnings						261	139
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption						1,301	139			$ 901
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption						1,301				$ 901
Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Retained earnings						2,997
Accumulated other comprehensive loss						(2,997)
Fiscal Year 2016 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption							139
Fiscal Year 2017 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption						261
Product [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues		22,463	21,782	64,848	61,667
Cost of Goods and Services Sold		(18,882)	(18,050)	(53,134)	(50,936)
Product [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues			(43)		1,183
Cost of Goods and Services Sold					(1,080)
Service [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues		2,683	2,441	7,938	7,568
Cost of Goods and Services Sold		$ (2,140)	(1,879)	$ (6,215)	(5,742)
Service [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues			(43)		28
Cost of Goods and Services Sold			31		(12)
Previously Reported [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues			24,309		68,024
Cost of Revenue			(19,987)		(55,639)
Gross Profit			4,322		12,385
General and Administrative Expense			(915)		(2,888)
Research and Development Expense			(767)		(2,418)
Earnings from operations			2,689		7,248
Other income, net			45		94
Earnings before income taxes			2,647		7,075
Income tax (expense)/benefit			(794)		(2,010)
Net earnings			$ 1,853		$ 5,065
Earnings Per Share, Basic			$ 3.10		$ 8.37
Earnings Per Share, Diluted			$ 3.06		$ 8.27
Assets [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, net						10,516
Unbilled receivables, net
Inventories						44,344
Other current assets
Assets, Current						65,161
Customer financing, net						2,740
Deferred income taxes						341
Assets						92,333
Liabilities and equity
Accrued liabilities						15,292
Advances and billings in excess of related costs						27,440
Advances and progress billings
Total current liabilities						56,269
Deferred income taxes						1,839
Total shareholders’ equity						355
Total equity						412	877
Total liabilities and equity						92,333
Cash flows - operation activities:
Net earnings			$ 1,853		$ 5,065
Non-cash items -
Depreciation and amortization					1,487
Other charges and credits, net					190
Changes in assets and liabilities -
Accounts receivable					(1,983)
Unbilled receivables
Advances and progress billings
Inventories					254
Other current assets
Accounts payable					778
Accrued liabilities					112
Advances and billings in excess of related costs					2,828
Income taxes receivable, payable and deferred					1,465
Customer financing, net					635
Other					(96)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities					10,440
Cash flows - investing activities:
Contributions to investments					(2,847)
Other					4
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities					(1,636)
Cash flows - financing activities:
Net increase/(decrease) in cash & cash equivalents, including restricted					(232)
Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at beginning of year					8,801	8,801
Cash & cash equivalents, including restricted, at end of period							8,801
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity						412	877
Previously Reported [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity						45,320	40,714
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity						45,320	$ 40,714
Previously Reported [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Liabilities and equity
Total equity						(13,376)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total equity						$ (13,376)
Previously Reported [Member] | Product [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues			21,825		60,484
Cost of Goods and Services Sold			(18,050)		(49,856)
Previously Reported [Member] | Service [Member]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues			2,484		7,540
Cost of Goods and Services Sold			$ (1,910)		$ (5,730)

[1] Net of tax.

[2] Reflects amounts restricted in support of our workers’ compensation programs, employee benefit programs, and insurance premiums.