Summary of Financial Information for Each Business Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015		Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 10,111		$ 10,650
Less: CAS pension cost	403		399
FAS/CAS pension adjustment	119		86
Stock-based compensation	(40)		(48)
Other, net	(29)		(35)
Total unallocated items	50		3
Operating profit	1,356		1,432
Total assets	39,752			37,073
Qualified defined benefit pension plans
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
FAS pension expense	(284)		(313)
Business segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	1,306		1,429
Total assets	27,165			26,490
Business segments | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	3,134		3,386
Operating profit	371		393
Total assets	6,655			6,021
Business segments | Information Systems & Global Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	1,869		1,910
Operating profit	136		174
Total assets	6,146			6,228
Business segments | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	1,503		1,867
Operating profit	292		358
Total assets	4,030			4,050
Business segments | Mission Systems and Training
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	1,651		1,628
Operating profit	219		250
Total assets	6,291			6,277
Business segments | Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	1,954		1,859
Operating profit	288		254
Total assets	4,043			3,914
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales	615		632
Intersegment elimination | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales	19		27
Intersegment elimination | Information Systems & Global Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales	185		176
Intersegment elimination | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales	90		87
Intersegment elimination | Mission Systems and Training
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales	292		315
Intersegment elimination | Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales	29		27
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 12,587	[1]		$ 10,583	[1]

[1] Corporate assets primarily include cash and cash equivalents, deferred income taxes, environmental receivables and investments held in a separate trust to fund certain of our non-qualified deferred compensation plans.