REVENUE - Cumulative Effective of Adoption of ASC 606 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Oct. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018
CURRENT ASSETS
Contract costs and recognized income not yet billed, net of progress payments	$ 89,232		$ 100,821	$ 121,803
Inventories	452,362		420,384	398,359
Total Current Assets	916,637		913,917	912,874
Total Assets	2,074,789		2,085,933	2,084,890
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	209,202		241,940	233,658
Billings in excess of costs	29,113		25,841
Total Current Liabilities	367,324		401,353	393,071
OTHER LIABILITIES	91,315		105,144	106,710
Total Liabilities	1,603,228		1,617,215	1,610,499
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Retained Earnings	550,460		544,850
Total Shareholders' Equity	471,561		468,718	474,391
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	2,074,789		2,085,933	2,084,890
Income Statement
Net sales	510,522	$ 437,303
Cost of goods and services	367,476	316,524
Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations	13,965	(2,073)
Provision (benefit) from income taxes	5,212	(24,904)
Income from continuing operations	8,753	$ 22,831
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS
Contract costs and recognized income not yet billed, net of progress payments	105,608			121,803
Inventories	433,603			398,359
Total Current Assets	914,254			912,874
Total Assets	2,072,406			2,084,890
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	200,920			233,658
Billings in excess of costs	20,831			17,559
Total Current Liabilities	359,042			393,071
OTHER LIABILITIES	92,589			106,710
Total Liabilities	1,596,220			1,610,499
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Retained Earnings	555,085			550,523
Total Shareholders' Equity	476,186			474,391
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	2,072,406			$ 2,084,890
Income Statement
Net sales	505,916
Cost of goods and services	364,210
Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations	12,625
Provision (benefit) from income taxes	4,920
Income from continuing operations	7,705
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
Income Statement
Net sales	4,606
Cost of goods and services	3,266
Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations	1,340
Provision (benefit) from income taxes	292
Income from continuing operations	1,048
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 (ASC 606) [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS
Contract costs and recognized income not yet billed, net of progress payments	(16,376)		(20,982)
Inventories	18,759		22,025
Total Current Assets	2,383		1,043
Total Assets	2,383		1,043
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	8,282		8,282
Billings in excess of costs	8,282		8,282
Total Current Liabilities	8,282		8,282
OTHER LIABILITIES	(1,274)		(1,566)
Total Liabilities	7,008		6,716
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Retained Earnings	(4,625)		(5,673)
Total Shareholders' Equity	(4,625)		(5,673)
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	$ 2,383		$ 1,043