Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Commitments and Contingencies
Probable future cost for envionmental remediation	$ 2
Operating lease rent expense	45	44	44
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2013	24
2014	21
2015	18
2016	14
2017	12
Thereafter	55
Total	144
Number of employees
Commitments and Contingencies
Collective bargaining agreements	37000
Percent of workforce subject to collective bargaining arrangements
Commitments and Contingencies
Collective bargaining agreements	.50
Number of collective bargaining agreements
Commitments and Contingencies
Collective bargaining agreements	9
Number of collective bargaining agreements, Newport News [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Collective bargaining agreements	3
Number of Collective Bargaining Unit, Pascagoula and Gulfport [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies
Collective bargaining agreements	5
Surety Bonds Outstanding
Commitments and Contingencies
Surety bonds outstanding	351
HII Credit Facility | Standby Letters of Credit
Commitments and Contingencies
Letters of credit issued but undrawn	$ 46
Minimum
Commitments and Contingencies
Period Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements	3 years
Maximum
Commitments and Contingencies
Period Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements	5 years