BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis Of Accounting

Curtiss-Wright Corporation and its subsidiaries (the "Corporation" or the "Company") is a diversified multinational manufacturing and service company that designs, manufactures, and overhauls precision components and provides highly engineered products and services to the aerospace, defense, power generation, and general industrial markets.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Curtiss-Wright and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Corporation have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of these financial statements.

Management is required to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the accompanying financial statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The most significant of these estimates includes the estimate of costs to complete long-term contracts under the percentage-of-completion accounting methods, the estimate of useful lives for property, plant, and equipment, cash flow estimates used for testing the recoverability of assets, pension plan and postretirement obligation assumptions, estimates for inventory obsolescence, estimates for the valuation and useful lives of intangible assets, legal reserves, and the estimate of future environmental costs. Changes in estimates of contract sales, costs, and profits are recognized using the cumulative catch-up method of accounting. This method recognizes in the current period the cumulative effect of the changes on current and prior periods. Accordingly, the effect of the changes on future periods of contract performance is recognized as if the revised estimate had been the original estimate. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, there were no individual significant changes in estimated contract costs. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these financial statements.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Corporation’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of trends or of the operating results for a full year.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent accounting pronouncements adopted

Standard	Description	Effect on the condensed consolidated financial statements
ASU 2017-04 Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment	In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the measurement of goodwill impairment testing by removing step two. This guidance was early adopted effective January 1, 2017 and will be applied prospectively.	The adoption of this standard does not have a financial impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Date of adoption: January 1, 2017
ASU 2016-09 Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting	In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions for both public and nonpublic entities, including the accounting for income taxes and forfeitures. Excess tax benefits previously reported as cash flows from financing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are now required to be reported as operating activities. The Company adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2017.	The Corporation recorded an income tax benefit of approximately $4 million within the provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2017 related to the excess tax benefit on stock options and performance share units. Prior to adoption, this amount would have been recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital. The Corporation elected to account for forfeitures as they occur, which did not have a material impact on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Date of adoption: January 1, 2017

Recent accounting pronouncements to be adopted

Standard	Description	Effect on the condensed consolidated financial statements
ASU 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers	In May 2014, the FASB issued a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard which will supersede previous existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard creates a five-step model for revenue recognition that requires companies to exercise judgment when considering contract terms and relevant facts and circumstances. The five-step model includes (1) identifying the contract, (2) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations and (5) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation has been satisfied. The standard also requires expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption.	The Corporation plans to apply the modified retrospective approach upon adoption and is currently evaluating the impact of adoption on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of January 1, 2018. We have performed a preliminary review of our customer contracts; however, our assessment is still ongoing and not yet complete. It is expected that the disclosures in our Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements related to revenue recognition will be expanded under the new standard. The Corporation will continue to monitor interpretative guidance issued by the FASB which may cause our evaluation to change.
Date of adoption: January 1, 2018
ASU 2016-02 Leases	In February 2016, the FASB issued final guidance that will require lessees to put most leases on their balance sheets but recognize expenses on their income statements in a manner similar to today’s accounting. The guidance requires the use of a modified retrospective approach.	The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Date of adoption: January 1, 2019
ASU 2017-01 Clarifying the Definition of a Business	In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, which clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The standard introduces a screen for determining when assets acquired are not a business and clarifies that a business must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that contribute to an output. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years.	The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Date of adoption: January 1, 2018
ASU 2017-07 Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost	In March 2017, the FASB issued final guidance that will change how the net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans are presented in the income statement and the respective capitalization of assets on the balance sheet. The guidance requires the use of a retrospective approach for the presentation of the income statement and a prospective approach for the presentation of the balance sheet.	The Corporation is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Date of adoption: January 1, 2018