Business Group Information (Summary Operating Results For Each Of Business Groups) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 32,677		$ 32,466		$ 31,981
Operating Earnings	3,826		3,945		3,675
Identifiable assets	34,883		32,545		31,077
Capital expenditures	458		370		385
Aerospace [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5,998		5,299		5,171
Operating Earnings	729		860		707
Identifiable assets	7,132		6,963		6,815
Capital expenditures	153		66		112
Depreciation and Amortization	142		133		142
Combat Systems [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	8,827		8,878		9,645
Operating Earnings	1,283		1,275		1,262
Identifiable assets	10,106		9,324		9,342
Capital expenditures	90		116		104
Depreciation and Amortization	173		162		156
Marine Systems [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,631		6,677		6,363
Operating Earnings	691		674		642
Identifiable assets	2,858		2,612		2,512
Capital expenditures	116		95		85
Depreciation and Amortization	74		74		71
Information Systems And Technology [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	11,221		11,612		10,802
Operating Earnings	1,200		1,219		1,151
Identifiable assets	11,934		10,898		10,416
Capital expenditures	93		83		77
Depreciation and Amortization	196		193		186
Corporate [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Operating Earnings	(77)	[1]	(83)	[1]	(87)	[1]
Identifiable assets	2,853	[1]	2,748	[1]	1,992	[1]
Capital expenditures	6	[1]	10	[1]	7	[1]
Depreciation and Amortization	7	[1]	7	[1]	7	[1]
U.S. Government [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	22,603		23,263		22,721
U.S. Government [Member] | Aerospace [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	171		220		189
U.S. Government [Member] | Combat Systems [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,343		6,637		7,288
U.S. Government [Member] | Marine Systems [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	6,582		6,518		6,067
U.S. Government [Member] | Information Systems And Technology [Member]
Business Group Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 9,507		$ 9,888		$ 9,177

[1] Corporate operating results include our stock option expense and a portion of the operating results of our pension plans. Corporate identifiable assets include cash and equivalents from domestic operations and assets of discontinued operations.