ACQUISITIONS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Acquisitions
Net sales	$ 346,910,000	$ 319,905,000	$ 333,968,000	$ 284,420,000	$ 347,706,000	$ 331,240,000	$ 264,559,000	$ 250,684,000	$ 1,285,203,000.0	$ 1,194,189,000	$ 1,016,657,000
Net loss after taxes									85,078,000	70,636,000	55,686,000
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets (in years)									6
Estimated amortization expense related to the intangible assets
2012									14,810,000
2013									12,228,000
2014									9,310,000
2015									6,489,000
2016									3,802,000
Abraxas Corporation
Acquisitions
Net sales									50,000,000
Net loss after taxes									2,300,000
Transaction related costs	700,000								700,000
Cash paid for acquisition	126,000,000								126,000,000
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets (in years)									6
Amortization expense									8,200,000
Purchase price allocation
Recoverable income taxes	4,300,000								4,300,000
Deferred tax liabilities, net	(7,600,000)								(7,600,000)
Net tangible assets acquired	5,100,000								5,100,000
Net identifiable assets acquired	44,300,000								44,300,000
Goodwill	81,700,000								81,700,000
Total	126,000,000								126,000,000
Estimated amortization expense related to the intangible assets
2012									9,300,000
2013									7,800,000
2014									6,300,000
2015									4,800,000
2016									2,400,000
Unaudited pro forma information
Net sales									1,298,600,000	1,252,100,000
Net income attributable to Cubic									84,800,000	70,900,000
Abraxas Corporation | Customer relationships
Purchase price allocation
Amortizable intangible assets	20,100,000								20,100,000
Abraxas Corporation | Backlog
Purchase price allocation
Amortizable intangible assets	11,500,000								11,500,000
Abraxas Corporation | Corporate trade names
Purchase price allocation
Amortizable intangible assets	5,700,000								5,700,000
Abraxas Corporation | Non-compete agreements
Purchase price allocation
Amortizable intangible assets	5,200,000								5,200,000
Defense system companies
Acquisitions
Number of companies acquired										2
Amortization period in accordance with U.S. tax regulations (in years)										15
Purchase price allocation
Goodwill					4,800,000					4,800,000
Defense system companies | In-process research and development and contract and program intangibles
Purchase price allocation
Unamortized intangible assets					$ 4,300,000					$ 4,300,000