OTHER	9 Months Ended
OTHER	Sep. 24, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
OTHER	OTHER Contract Estimates Significant estimates and assumptions are made in estimating contract sales, costs, and profit. We estimate profit as the difference between estimated revenues and total estimated costs to complete the contract. At the outset of a long-term contract, we identify and monitor risks to the achievement of the technical, schedule and cost aspects of the contract, as well as our ability to earn variable consideration, and assess the effects of those risks on our estimates of sales and total costs to complete the contract. The estimates consider the technical requirements (e.g., a newly-developed product versus a mature product), the schedule and associated tasks (e.g., the number and type of milestone events) and costs (e.g., material, labor, subcontractor, overhead, general and administrative and the estimated costs to fulfill our industrial cooperation agreements, sometimes referred to as offset or localization agreements, required under certain contracts with international customers). The initial profit booking rate of each contract considers risks surrounding the ability to achieve the technical requirements, schedule and costs in the initial estimated total costs to complete the contract. Profit booking rates may increase during the performance of the contract if we successfully retire risks related to technical, schedule and cost aspects of the contract, which decreases the estimated total costs to complete the contract or may increase the variable consideration we expect to receive on the contract. Conversely, our profit booking rates may decrease if the estimated total costs to complete the contract increase or our estimates of variable consideration we expect to receive decrease. All of the estimates are subject to change during the performance of the contract and may affect the profit booking rate. When estimates of total costs to be incurred on a contract exceed total estimates of the transaction price, a provision for the entire loss is determined at the contract level and is recorded in the period in which the loss is evident, which we refer to as a reach-forward loss. Comparability of our segment sales, operating profit and operating margin may be impacted favorably or unfavorably by changes in profit booking rates on our contracts. Increases in the profit booking rates, typically referred to as favorable profit adjustments, usually relate to revisions in the estimated total costs to fulfill the performance obligations that reflect improved conditions on a particular contract. Conversely, conditions on a particular contract may deteriorate, resulting in an increase in the estimated total costs to fulfill the performance obligations and a reduction in the profit booking rate and are typically referred to as unfavorable profit adjustments. Increases or decreases in profit booking rates are recognized in the period they are determined and reflect the inception-to-date effect of such changes. Segment operating profit and margin may also be impacted favorably or unfavorably by other items, which may or may not impact sales. Favorable items may include the positive resolution of contractual matters, cost recoveries on severance and restructuring, insurance recoveries and gains on sales of assets. Unfavorable items may include the adverse resolution of contractual matters; supply chain disruptions; restructuring charges (except for significant severance actions, which are excluded from segment operating results); reserves for disputes; certain asset impairments; and losses on sales of certain assets. Our consolidated net profit booking rate adjustments increased sales by $231 million and $1.0 billion during the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2023, and $515 million and $1.4 billion during the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2022. These adjustments increased segment operating profit by approximately $335 million ($265 million, or $1.06 per share, after tax) and $1.1 billion ($881 million, or $3.48 per share, after tax) during the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2023, and $455 million ($359 million, or $1.35 per share, after tax) and $1.3 billion ($1.0 billion, or $3.89 per share, after tax) during the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2022. We have various development programs for new and upgraded products, services, and related technologies which have complex design and technical challenges. This development work is inherently uncertain and subject to significant variability in estimates of the cost and time required to complete the work by us and our suppliers. Many of these programs have cost-type contracting arrangements (e.g. cost-reimbursable or cost-plus-fee). In such cases, the associated financial risks are primarily in reduced fees, lower profit rates, or program cancellation if cost, schedule, or technical performance issues arise. However, some of our existing development programs are contracted on a fixed-price basis or include cost-type contracting for the development phase with fixed-price production options and our customers are increasingly implementing procurement policies such as these that shift risk to contractors. Competitively bid programs with fixed-price development work or fixed-price production options increase the risk of a reach-forward loss upon contract award and during the period of contract performance. Due to the complex and often experimental nature of development programs, we may experience (and have experienced in the past) technical and quality issues during the development of new products or technologies for a variety of reasons. Our development programs are ongoing, and while we believe the cost and fee estimates incorporated in the financial statements are appropriate, the technical complexity of these programs and fixed-price contract structure creates financial risk as estimated completion costs may exceed the current contract value, which could trigger earnings charges, termination provisions, or other financially significant exposures. These programs have risk for reach-forward losses if our estimated costs exceed our estimated contract revenues, and such losses could be significant to our financial results, cash flows, or financial condition. Any such losses are recorded in the period in which the loss is evident. We have experienced performance issues on a classified fixed-price incentive fee contract that involves highly complex design and systems integration at our Aeronautics business segment and have periodically recognized reach-forward losses. As of September 24, 2023, cumulative losses remained at approximately $270 million. We will continue to monitor the technical requirements and our performance, the remaining work and any future changes in scope or schedule, and estimated costs to complete the program and may have to record additional losses in future periods if we experience further performance issues, increases in scope, or cost growth, which could be material to our financial results. In addition, we and our industry team will incur advanced procurement costs (also referred to as pre-contract costs) in order to enhance our ability to achieve the schedule and certain milestones. We will monitor the recoverability of pre-contract costs, which could be impacted by the customer’s decision regarding future phases of the program. We are responsible for a program to design, develop and construct a ground-based radar at our RMS business segment. The program has experienced performance issues for which we have periodically recognized reach-forward losses. As of September 24, 2023, cumulative losses remained at approximately $280 million. We will continue to monitor our performance, any future changes in scope, and estimated costs to complete the program and may have to record additional losses in future periods if we experience further performance issues, increases in scope, or cost growth. However, based on the losses previously recorded and our current estimate of the sales and costs to complete the program, at this time we do not anticipate that additional losses, if any, would be material to our financial results or financial condition. Backlog Backlog (i.e., unfulfilled or remaining performance obligations) represents the sales we expect to recognize for our products and services for which control has not yet transferred to the customer. It is converted into sales in future periods as work is performed or deliveries are made. For our cost-reimbursable and fixed-priced-incentive contracts, the estimated consideration we expect to receive pursuant to the terms of the contract may exceed the contractual award amount. The estimated consideration is determined at the outset of the contract and is continuously reviewed throughout the contract period. In determining the estimated consideration, we consider the risks related to the technical, schedule and cost impacts to complete the contract and an estimate of any variable consideration. Periodically, we review these risks and may increase or decrease backlog accordingly. As the risks on such contracts are successfully retired, the estimated consideration from customers may be reduced, resulting in a reduction of backlog without a corresponding recognition of sales. As of September 24, 2023, our ending backlog was $156.0 billion. We expect to recognize approximately 35% of our backlog over the next 12 months and approximately 60% over the next 24 months as revenue with the remainder recognized thereafter. Income Taxes Our effective income tax rates were 13.8% and 15.1% for the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2023 and 15.3% and 14.9% for the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2022. The rate for the third quarter of 2023 was lower than the third quarter of 2022 primarily due to additional research and development tax credits for prior years. The rates for all periods benefited from research and development tax credits, tax deductions for foreign derived intangible income and dividends paid to our defined contribution plans with an employee stock ownership plan feature. As of December 31, 2022, our liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions were $1.6 billion. For the nine months ended September 24, 2023, our liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions increased to $2.3 billion with a corresponding increase to net deferred tax assets primarily resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017’s elimination of the option for taxpayers to deduct research and development expenditures immediately in the year incurred and instead requiring taxpayers to amortize such expenditures over five years. Investments We make investments in companies that we believe are advancing or developing new technologies applicable to our business. These investments are primarily in early-stage companies and may be in the form of common or preferred stock, warrants, convertible debt securities, investments in funds or equity method investments. Most of these investments are in equity securities without readily determinable fair values (privately held securities), which are measured initially at cost and are then adjusted to fair value only if there is an observable price change or reduced for impairment, if applicable. The carrying amounts of the investments were $602 million and $589 million at September 24, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Due to changes in fair value and/or sales of investments, we recorded net losses of $13 million ($10 million, or $0.04 per share, after tax) and $24 million ($18 million, or $0.07 per share, after-tax) during the quarter and nine months ended September 24, 2023 and net losses of $26 million ($20 million, or $0.07 per share, after-tax) and $66 million ($50 million, or $0.19 per share, after-tax) during the quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2022. These losses are reflected in the other non-operating income (expense), net account on our consolidated statements of earnings. Debt Issuance On May 25, 2023, we issued a total of $2.0 billion of senior unsecured notes, consisting of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.45% Notes due May 15, 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), $850 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% Notes due February 15, 2034 (the “2034 Notes”) and $650 million aggregate principal amount of 5.20% Notes due February 15, 2055 (the “2055 Notes” and, together with the 2028 Notes and 2034 Notes, the “Notes”) in a registered public offering. Net proceeds of $1,975 million were received from the offering after deducting pricing discounts and debt issuance costs, which are being amortized and recorded as interest expense over the term of the Notes. We may, at our option, redeem the Notes of any series in whole or in part at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or an applicable make-whole amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Revolving Credit Facility At September 24, 2023, we had a $3.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility with various banks, with the option to increase the commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility by an additional amount of up to $500 million (for an aggregate amount of up to $3.5 billion). Effective August 24, 2023, we extended the expiration date of the Revolving Credit Agreement from August 24, 2027 to August 24, 2028. The Revolving Credit Agreement is available for any of our lawful corporate purposes, including supporting commercial paper borrowings. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement are unsecured and bear interest at rates set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants restricting ours and certain of our subsidiaries’ ability to encumber assets and our ability to merge or consolidate with another entity. There were no borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement at September 24, 2023.