Summary of Financial Information for Each Business Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 24, 2012		Mar. 25, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 25, 2011		Jun. 26, 2011		Mar. 27, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 12,099		$ 11,869	[1]	$ 11,921	[1]	$ 11,293	[1]	$ 12,211	[1]	$ 12,119	[1]	$ 11,543	[1]	$ 10,626	[1]	$ 47,182		$ 46,499		$ 45,671
Operating profit	1,061		1,137	[1]	1,192	[1]	1,044	[1]	1,106	[1]	1,035	[1]	999	[1]	880	[1]	4,434		4,020		4,105
Severance and other charges											(39)		(97)				(48)	[2]	(136)	[2]	(220)	[2]
Other unallocated expenses, net																	(1,101)	[3]	(1,125)	[3]	(703)	[3]
Total intersegment sales																	2,348		2,432		2,316
Total depreciation and amortization																	988		1,008		1,052
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	942		987		1,074
Total assets	38,657	[4]							37,908	[4]							38,657	[4]	37,908	[4]
Total goodwill	10,370	[5]							10,148	[5]							10,370	[5]	10,148	[5]
Total customer advances and amounts in excess of costs incurred	6,503								6,399								6,503		6,399
Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																	14,953		14,362		13,109
Operating profit																	1,699		1,630		1,498
Severance and other charges																	(25)		(49)
Total intersegment sales																	197		193		128
Total depreciation and amortization																	311		345		334
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	271		361		422
Total assets	6,525	[4]							5,752	[4]							6,525	[4]	5,752	[4]
Total goodwill	146								146								146		146
Total customer advances and amounts in excess of costs incurred	2,382								2,443								2,382		2,443
Information Systems & Global Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																	8,846		9,381		9,921
Operating profit																	808		874		814
Total intersegment sales																	838		864		912
Total depreciation and amortization																	92		83		106
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	78		71		67
Total assets	5,664	[4]							5,838	[4]							5,664	[4]	5,838	[4]
Total goodwill	3,767								3,749								3,767		3,749
Total customer advances and amounts in excess of costs incurred	323								350								323		350
Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																	7,457		7,463		6,930
Operating profit																	1,256		1,069		973
Total intersegment sales																	298		304		295
Total depreciation and amortization																	104		102		103
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	128		119		112
Total assets	4,186	[4]							4,096	[4]							4,186	[4]	4,096	[4]
Total goodwill	2,485								2,481								2,485		2,481
Total customer advances and amounts in excess of costs incurred	1,988								1,888								1,988		1,888
Mission Systems and Training
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																	7,579		7,132		7,443
Operating profit																	737		645		713
Severance and other charges																					(42)
Total intersegment sales																	908		958		857
Total depreciation and amortization																	179		174		183
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	158		161		176
Total assets	6,589	[4]							6,159	[4]							6,589	[4]	6,159	[4]
Total goodwill	3,264								3,065								3,264		3,065
Total customer advances and amounts in excess of costs incurred	1,335								1,326								1,335		1,326
Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales																	8,347		8,161		8,268
Operating profit																	1,083		1,063		1,030
Severance and other charges																			(48)
Total intersegment sales																	107		113		124
Total depreciation and amortization																	191		199		212
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	167		192		205
Total assets	3,478	[4]							3,346	[4]							3,478	[4]	3,346	[4]
Total goodwill	708								707								708		707
Total customer advances and amounts in excess of costs incurred	475								392								475		392
Total business segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit																	5,583		5,281		5,028
Total depreciation and amortization																	877		903		938
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	802		904		982
Total assets	26,442	[4]							25,191	[4]							26,442	[4]	25,191	[4]
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total depreciation and amortization																	111		105		114
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software																	140		83		92
Total assets	$ 12,215	[6]							$ 12,717	[6]							$ 12,215	[6]	$ 12,717	[6]

[1] Operating profit varies from the amounts previously reported on Forms 10-Q as a result of the reclassification of net gains from securities held in a separate trust from other non-operating income (expense), net to cost of sales in the fourth quarter of 2012 (Note 1).

[2] Severance and other charges include the severance charges recorded in 2012 associated with our Aeronautics business segment and the reorganization of our former Electronic Systems business segment; for 2011, include the severance charges associated with our Aeronautics, IS&GS, and Space Systems business segments, and Corporate Headquarters; and for 2010, include the charges related to the VESP and the facilities consolidation within our MST business segment (Note 13). Severance charges for initiatives that are not significant are included in business segment operating profit.

[3] Other unallocated expenses, net included the following (in millions): 2012 2011 2010 Non-cash FAS/CAS pension adjustment $ (830 ) $ (922 ) $ (454 ) Stock-based compensation (167 ) (157 ) (168 ) Other, net (104 ) (46 ) (81 ) Total $ (1,101 ) $ (1,125 ) $ (703 )

[4] We have no significant long-lived assets located in foreign countries.

[5] During 2012, the increase in goodwill primarily was due to the acquisitions of Chandler/May, CDL, and Procerus at our MST business segment (Note 14). During 2011, goodwill increased $543 million primarily due to the acquisitions of QTC at our IS&GS business segment and Sim-Industries at our MST business segment (Note 14). As a result of the previously discussed reorganization, the goodwill related to the former Electronic Systems business segment was reassigned on a relative fair value basis to the MFC, MST, and Space Systems business segments.

[6] Corporate assets primarily include cash and cash equivalents, deferred income taxes, environmental receivables, and investments held in a separate trust.