Business Group Information - Segment Reporting Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 31,469	$ 30,852	$ 30,930
Operating earnings	[1]	4,178	3,889	3,689
Identifiable Assets		31,997	35,337	35,473
Capital Expenditures		569	521	436
Depreciation and Amortization		482	496	525
U S Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		17,981	17,955	19,263
Aerospace
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		8,851	8,649	8,118
Operating earnings		1,706	1,611	1,416
Identifiable Assets		8,358	8,245	8,005
Capital Expenditures		210	227	250
Depreciation and Amortization		147	137	123
Aerospace | U S Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		104	99	98
Combat Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		5,640	5,732	5,832
Operating earnings		882	862	908
Identifiable Assets		8,800	9,487	9,002
Capital Expenditures		79	46	50
Depreciation and Amortization		91	100	113
Combat Systems | U S Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		2,583	2,970	4,057
Information Systems and Technology
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		8,965	9,159	10,268
Operating earnings		903	785	795
Identifiable Assets		8,577	9,064	9,432
Capital Expenditures		73	54	52
Depreciation and Amortization		131	146	178
Information Systems and Technology | U S Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		7,856	7,985	8,572
Marine Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		8,013	7,312	6,712
Operating earnings		728	703	666
Identifiable Assets		2,970	3,110	3,088
Capital Expenditures		166	124	83
Depreciation and Amortization		106	106	103
Marine Systems | U S Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		7,438	6,901	6,536
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	0	0	0
Operating earnings	[1]	(41)	(72)	(96)
Identifiable Assets	[1]	3,292	5,431	5,946
Capital Expenditures	[1]	41	70	1
Depreciation and Amortization	[1]	7	7	8
Corporate | U S Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Corporate operating results consist primarily of stock option expense. Corporate identifiable assets are primarily cash and equivalents.