Information on Business Segments - Net Sales By Customer (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 24, 2017	Jun. 25, 2017	Mar. 26, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 25, 2016	Jun. 26, 2016	Mar. 27, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 15,137	$ 12,169	$ 12,685	$ 11,057	$ 13,752	$ 11,551	$ 11,577	$ 10,368	$ 51,048	$ 47,248	$ 40,536
Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									20,148	17,769	15,570
Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									7,212	6,608	6,770
Rotary and Mission Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									14,215	13,462	9,091
Space
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									9,473	9,409	9,105
U.S. Government
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									35,324	33,470	31,151
U.S. Government | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									12,753	11,714	11,195
U.S. Government | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									4,640	4,026	4,150
U.S. Government | Rotary and Mission Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									9,834	9,187	6,961
U.S. Government | Space
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									8,097	8,543	8,845
International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									15,041	12,703	9,011
International | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									7,307	5,973	4,328
International | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,423	2,444	2,449
International | Rotary and Mission Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									4,006	3,798	2,016
International | Space
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,305	488	218
U.S. Commercial and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									683	1,075	374
U.S. Commercial and Other | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									88	82	47
U.S. Commercial and Other | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									149	138	171
U.S. Commercial and Other | Rotary and Mission Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									375	477	114
U.S. Commercial and Other | Space
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 71	$ 378	$ 42
F-35 Program | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Program net sales as percent of total net sales									25.00%	23.00%	23.00%