CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Net sales:
Products	$ 681,559	$ 661,904	$ 607,226
Services	804,302	799,761	823,819
Total net sales	1,485,861	1,461,665	1,431,045
Costs and expenses:
Products	473,670	473,444	451,295
Services	648,472	643,462	640,031
Selling, general and administrative expenses	258,088	269,593	212,518
Research and development	52,652	31,976	17,992
Amortization of purchased intangibles	32,997	34,120	27,550
Restructuring costs	2,468	1,852	6,272
Total costs and expenses	1,468,347	1,454,447	1,355,658
Operating income	17,514	7,218	75,387
Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income	994	1,476	1,809
Interest expense	(15,027)	(11,199)	(4,400)
Pension settlement loss		(2,671)
Other income (expense), net	369	(2,301)	(885)
Income (loss) before income taxes	3,850	(7,477)	71,911
Income tax provision (benefit)	15,059	(9,212)	48,997
Net income (loss)	(11,209)	1,735	22,914
Less noncontrolling interest in income of VIE			29
Net income (loss) attributable to Cubic	$ (11,209)	$ 1,735	$ 22,885
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.06	$ 0.85
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.06	$ 0.85
Weighted average shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	27,106	26,976	26,872
Diluted (in shares)	27,106	27,040	26,938