BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013 Segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
Number of primary business segments									3
Revenue recognition
Sales	$ 340,776,000	$ 337,226,000	$ 368,609,000	$ 314,796,000	$ 369,255,000	$ 371,142,000	$ 343,830,000	$ 319,857,000	$ 1,361,407,000	$ 1,404,084,000	$ 1,301,584,000
Operating income (loss)	(44,055,000)	26,905,000	37,376,000	20,509,000	30,740,000	39,602,000	35,923,000	29,940,000	40,735,000	136,205,000	118,583,000
Assets	1,108,375,000	1,134,662,000	1,085,518,000	1,037,572,000	1,014,550,000	999,425,000	976,776,000	939,194,000	1,108,375,000	1,014,550,000	963,650,000
Depreciation and amortization	7,345,000	6,417,000	6,879,000	4,718,000	5,717,000	5,843,000	5,465,000	5,832,000	25,359,000	22,857,000	22,341,000
Capital expenditures	2,843,000	2,348,000	2,438,000	1,423,000	982,000	3,094,000	4,901,000	5,249,000	9,052,000	14,226,000	8,728,000
Transportation Systems
Revenue recognition
Sales									529,500,000	522,200,000	433,100,000
Operating income (loss)									66,800,000	84,600,000	72,000,000
Assets	369,800,000				268,400,000				369,800,000	268,400,000	167,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									5,000,000	3,700,000	3,600,000
Capital expenditures									2,800,000	2,700,000	2,200,000
Sales to Transport for London									193,400,000	184,700,000	174,800,000
MSS and CDS Segments
Revenue recognition
Sales to U.S. government agencies									691,800,000	699,400,000	728,200,000
Mission Support Services
Revenue recognition
Sales									468,700,000	491,400,000	476,500,000
Operating income (loss)									(36,100,000)	21,100,000	23,900,000
Assets	205,200,000				212,800,000				205,200,000	212,800,000	144,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									13,000,000	12,500,000	12,300,000
Capital expenditures									300,000	1,100,000	300,000
Defense Systems
Revenue recognition
Sales									363,000,000	389,400,000	390,700,000
Operating income (loss)									14,200,000	35,300,000	29,800,000
Assets	228,900,000				211,200,000				228,900,000	211,200,000	213,000,000
Depreciation and amortization									6,100,000	5,500,000	5,400,000
Capital expenditures									4,600,000	8,900,000	5,500,000
Other
Revenue recognition
Sales									200,000	1,100,000	1,300,000
Corporate and other
Revenue recognition
Assets	304,500,000				322,200,000				304,500,000	322,200,000	439,700,000
Depreciation and amortization									1,300,000	1,200,000	1,000,000
Capital expenditures									1,400,000	1,500,000	700,000
Unallocated corporate expenses and other
Revenue recognition
Operating income (loss)									$ (4,200,000)	$ (4,800,000)	$ (7,100,000)