Special Charges (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010
Special Charges
Special charges	$ 114	$ 136
Severance Costs [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	20	39
Severance Costs [Member] | Cessna [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	15	29
Severance Costs [Member] | Bell [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges		1
Severance Costs [Member] | Textron Systems [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	4	5
Severance Costs [Member] | Finance [ Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	1	6
Severance Costs [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges		(2)
Contract Terminations [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	3	6
Contract Terminations [Member] | Cessna [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges		2
Contract Terminations [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	1	1
Contract Terminations [Member] | Finance [ Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	2	3
Other [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	91	91
Other [Member] | Finance [ Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	91	91
Cessna [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	15	31
Bell [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges		1
Textron Systems [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	4	5
Industrial [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	1	1
Finance [ Member]
Special Charges
Special charges	94	100
Corporate [Member]
Special Charges
Special charges		$ (2)