CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 318,794	$ 328,839
Costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	63,660	65,915
Research and development	12,146	8,422
Amortization of purchased intangibles	16,107	10,089
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment		(170)
Restructuring costs	4,135	1,575
Total costs and expenses	317,497	335,322
Operating income (loss)	1,297	(6,483)
Other income (expenses):
Interest and dividend income	1,789	2,218
Interest expense	(8,171)	(5,363)
Other income (expense), net	1,296	(127)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(3,789)	(9,755)
Income tax provision	3,489	6,246
Loss from continuing operations	(7,278)	(16,001)
Net loss from discontinued operations		(584)
Net loss	(7,278)	(16,585)
Less noncontrolling interest in net income of VIE	5,717	3,990
Net loss attributable to Cubic	(12,995)	(20,575)
Amounts attributable to Cubic:
Net loss from continuing operations	(12,995)	(19,991)
Net loss from discontinued operations		(584)
Net loss attributable to Cubic	$ (12,995)	$ (20,575)
Basic
Continuing operations attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.64)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.02)
Basic earnings per share attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	(0.41)	(0.66)
Diluted
Continuing operations attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	(0.41)	(0.64)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.02)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Cubic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.66)
Weighted average shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	31,562	31,273
Diluted (in shares)	31,562	31,273
Products
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 181,489	$ 200,604
Costs and expenses:
Costs	138,019	166,843
Services
Net sales:
Net sales	137,305	128,235
Costs and expenses:
Costs	$ 83,430	$ 82,648