Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Legal Matters Wichita Matter As previously disclosed, the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas issued a grand jury subpoena in 2011 to Plastic Fabricating Company, Inc. (“PlasticFab”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company now known as Kaman Composites - Wichita, Inc., regarding a government investigation of record keeping associated with the manufacture of certain composite parts at PlasticFab's facility located in Wichita, Kansas. The subpoena required information related to the period January 1, 2006, through June 30, 2008. In March 2013, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas notified PlasticFab that it may seek to commence a criminal proceeding against PlasticFab but it expressed a willingness to explore a pre-charge disposition of the matter. PlasticFab believes it has cooperated fully with the investigation and intends to continue to do so as it engages in further discussions with the U.S. Attorney's Office about this matter. Under present U.S. Government procurement laws and regulations, if indicted or adjudged to be in violation of procurement or other Federal laws, a contractor, such as PlasticFab, could be subject to fines, penalties, repayments, or compensatory or treble damages, or suspension or debarment on U.S. Government contract awards if warranted. Thus, as with any government contractor, an adverse outcome in a proceeding such as this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Management continues to cooperate with the government's investigation; however, we are unable to predict the outcome of any proceeding that may be brought or to estimate the amounts of resulting claims or other actions that could be instituted against PlasticFab, its officers, employees, or affiliates. Sales for PlasticFab represented 1.0% of the Company's consolidated sales for the year ended December 31, 2013. At March 28, 2014, the amount accrued for this matter was not material. Other Matters Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia During the second quarter of 2013, the Company signed a $120.6 million contract to resell ten of the Australia SH-2G(A) (now designated SH-2G(I)) aircraft, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator, and related logistics support to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. Pursuant to the terms of its revenue sharing agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia, the Company will share proceeds from the resale with the Commonwealth on a predetermined basis. Through March 28, 2014, the Company has paid $39.5 million (AUD) to the Commonwealth of Australia, the required minimum amount of payments pursuant to the revenue sharing agreement. The Company has $1.9 million accrued for additional revenue sharing payments, calculated pursuant to the terms of the revenue sharing agreement. Any additional amounts will be recorded when they are due to the Commonwealth of Australia. 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED) Other Matters - continued Moosup This facility is currently being held for disposal. Site characterization of the environmental condition of the property, which began in 2008, is continuing. The total anticipated cost of the environmental remediation activities associated with the Moosup property is $4.5 million, all of which has been accrued. The total amount paid to date in connection with environmental remediation activities at this location is $2.5 million. A portion ($0.2 million) of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables and the balance is included in other long-term liabilities. The remaining balance of the accrual reflects the total anticipated cost of completing these environmental remediation activities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time. New Hartford In connection with the sale of the Company’s Music segment in 2007, the Company assumed responsibility for meeting certain requirements of the Connecticut Transfer Act (the “Transfer Act”) that applied to the transfer of the New Hartford, Connecticut, facility leased by that segment for guitar manufacturing purposes (“Ovation”). Under the Transfer Act, those responsibilities essentially consist of assessing the site's environmental conditions and remediating environmental impairments, if any, caused by Ovation's operations prior to the sale. The site is a multi-tenant industrial park, in which Ovation and other unrelated entities lease space. The environmental assessment process, which began in 2008, has been completed. The Company's estimate of its portion of the cost to assess the environmental conditions and remediate this site is $2.2 million, unchanged from the previously reported estimate, all of which has been accrued. The total amount paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities is $0.5 million. An immaterial portion of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables and the balance is included in other long-term liabilities. The remaining balance of the accrual reflects the total anticipated cost of completing these environmental remediation activities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time. Bloomfield In connection with the Company’s 2008 purchase of the portion of the Bloomfield campus that a Company subsidiary had leased from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the Company assumed responsibility for environmental remediation at the facility as may be required under the Transfer Act and continues the effort to define the scope of the remediation that will be required by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. The assumed environmental liability of $10.3 million, all of which has been accrued, was determined by taking the undiscounted estimated remediation liability of $20.8 million and discounting it at a rate of 8%. This remediation process will take many years to complete. The total amount paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities is $7.8 million. At March 28, 2014, the Company has $6.3 million accrued for this environmental matter. A portion ($1.7 million) of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables, and the balance ($4.6 million) is included in other long-term liabilities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time. United Kingdom In connection with the purchase of U.K. Composites, the Company accrued £1.6 million for environmental compliance at the acquired facilities. The remaining balance of the accrual at March 28, 2014, was £0.3 million, with £1.1 million having been paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities and £0.2 million released to income in 2011. The U.S. dollar equivalent of the remaining environmental compliance liability as of March 28, 2014, is $0.5 million, which is included in other accruals and payables. The Company continues to assess the work that may be required, which may result in a change to this accrual. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time. 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED) Other Matters - continued Other Environmental Matters The Company has been notified by the Environmental Protection Agency that it is a potentially responsible party ("PRP") at a Superfund Site. At March 28, 2014, the Company had no amount accrued for this matter, as it is unable to estimate the amount of costs, if any, that might be incurred in connection with the remediation of this site. In making this determination, the Company considered the availability of the information related to the site; specifically, the continued identification of PRPs and the inability to determine the proportion of total responsibility attributable to each PRP. As more information is received, the Company will reassess its ability to estimate its portion of the cost for remediation, taking into consideration the financial resources of other PRPs involved in the site, their proportionate share of the total responsibility for waste at the site, the existence of insurance and the financial viability of the insurer.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Matters

Wichita Matter

As previously disclosed, the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas issued a grand jury subpoena in 2011 to Plastic Fabricating Company, Inc. (“PlasticFab”), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company now known as Kaman Composites - Wichita, Inc., regarding a government investigation of record keeping associated with the manufacture of certain composite parts at PlasticFab's facility located in Wichita, Kansas. The subpoena required information related to the period January 1, 2006, through June 30, 2008. In March 2013, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas notified PlasticFab that it may seek to commence a criminal proceeding against PlasticFab but it expressed a willingness to explore a pre-charge disposition of the matter. PlasticFab believes it has cooperated fully with the investigation and intends to continue to do so as it engages in further discussions with the U.S. Attorney's Office about this matter. Under present U.S. Government procurement laws and regulations, if indicted or adjudged to be in violation of procurement or other Federal laws, a contractor, such as PlasticFab, could be subject to fines, penalties, repayments, or compensatory or treble damages, or suspension or debarment on U.S. Government contract awards if warranted. Thus, as with any government contractor, an adverse outcome in a proceeding such as this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Management continues to cooperate with the government's investigation; however, we are unable to predict the outcome of any proceeding that may be brought or to estimate the amounts of resulting claims or other actions that could be instituted against PlasticFab, its officers, employees, or affiliates. Sales for PlasticFab represented 1.0% of the Company's consolidated sales for the year ended December 31, 2013. At March 28, 2014, the amount accrued for this matter was not material.

Other Matters

Revenue Sharing Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia

During the second quarter of 2013, the Company signed a $120.6 million contract to resell ten of the Australia SH-2G(A) (now designated SH-2G(I)) aircraft, spare parts, a full mission flight simulator, and related logistics support to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. Pursuant to the terms of its revenue sharing agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia, the Company will share proceeds from the resale with the Commonwealth on a predetermined basis. Through March 28, 2014, the Company has paid $39.5 million (AUD) to the Commonwealth of Australia, the required minimum amount of payments pursuant to the revenue sharing agreement. The Company has $1.9 million accrued for additional revenue sharing payments, calculated pursuant to the terms of the revenue sharing agreement. Any additional amounts will be recorded when they are due to the Commonwealth of Australia.

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

Other Matters - continued

Moosup

This facility is currently being held for disposal. Site characterization of the environmental condition of the property, which began in 2008, is continuing. The total anticipated cost of the environmental remediation activities associated with the Moosup property is $4.5 million, all of which has been accrued. The total amount paid to date in connection with environmental remediation activities at this location is $2.5 million. A portion ($0.2 million) of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables and the balance is included in other long-term liabilities. The remaining balance of the accrual reflects the total anticipated cost of completing these environmental remediation activities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.

New Hartford

In connection with the sale of the Company’s Music segment in 2007, the Company assumed responsibility for meeting certain requirements of the Connecticut Transfer Act (the “Transfer Act”) that applied to the transfer of the New Hartford, Connecticut, facility leased by that segment for guitar manufacturing purposes (“Ovation”). Under the Transfer Act, those responsibilities essentially consist of assessing the site's environmental conditions and remediating environmental impairments, if any, caused by Ovation's operations prior to the sale. The site is a multi-tenant industrial park, in which Ovation and other unrelated entities lease space. The environmental assessment process, which began in 2008, has been completed.

The Company's estimate of its portion of the cost to assess the environmental conditions and remediate this site is $2.2 million, unchanged from the previously reported estimate, all of which has been accrued. The total amount paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities is $0.5 million. An immaterial portion of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables and the balance is included in other long-term liabilities. The remaining balance of the accrual reflects the total anticipated cost of completing these environmental remediation activities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.

Bloomfield

In connection with the Company’s 2008 purchase of the portion of the Bloomfield campus that a Company subsidiary had leased from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the Company assumed responsibility for environmental remediation at the facility as may be required under the Transfer Act and continues the effort to define the scope of the remediation that will be required by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. The assumed environmental liability of $10.3 million, all of which has been accrued, was determined by taking the undiscounted estimated remediation liability of $20.8 million and discounting it at a rate of 8%. This remediation process will take many years to complete. The total amount paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities is $7.8 million. At March 28, 2014, the Company has $6.3 million accrued for this environmental matter. A portion ($1.7 million) of the accrual related to this property is included in other accruals and payables, and the balance ($4.6 million) is included in other long-term liabilities. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.

United Kingdom

In connection with the purchase of U.K. Composites, the Company accrued £1.6 million for environmental compliance at the acquired facilities. The remaining balance of the accrual at March 28, 2014, was £0.3 million, with £1.1 million having been paid to date in connection with these environmental remediation activities and £0.2 million released to income in 2011. The U.S. dollar equivalent of the remaining environmental compliance liability as of March 28, 2014, is $0.5 million, which is included in other accruals and payables. The Company continues to assess the work that may be required, which may result in a change to this accrual. Although it is reasonably possible that additional costs will be paid in connection with the resolution of this matter, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of such additional costs, if any, at this time.

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

Other Matters - continued

Other Environmental Matters

The Company has been notified by the Environmental Protection Agency that it is a potentially responsible party ("PRP") at a Superfund Site. At March 28, 2014, the Company had no amount accrued for this matter, as it is unable to estimate the amount of costs, if any, that might be incurred in connection with the remediation of this site. In making this determination, the Company considered the availability of the information related to the site; specifically, the continued identification of PRPs and the inability to determine the proportion of total responsibility attributable to each PRP. As more information is received, the Company will reassess its ability to estimate its portion of the cost for remediation, taking into consideration the financial resources of other PRPs involved in the site, their proportionate share of the total responsibility for waste at the site, the existence of insurance and the financial viability of the insurer.