Summary of Financial Information for Each Business Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 25, 2016	Sep. 27, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales		$ 11,551	$ 10,060	$ 33,496	$ 29,016
Less: CAS pension cost	[1]	482	382	1,430	1,146
FAS/CAS pension adjustment	[1]	226	102	672	305
Stock-based compensation		(28)	(27)	(124)	(112)
Severance charges			(15)	(80)	(15)
Other, net		(33)	(112)	(157)	(264)
Total unallocated items		165	(52)	311	(86)
Operating profit		1,588	1,192	4,121	3,612
Total assets		48,739		48,739		$ 49,304
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets						4,130
Qualified defined benefit pension plans
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
FAS pension expense	[1]	(256)	(280)	(758)	(841)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit		1,423	1,244	3,810	3,698
Total assets		36,336		36,336		34,693
Operating Segments | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales		4,188	3,921	12,362	11,186
Operating profit		437	418	1,335	1,233
Total assets		8,012		8,012		6,618
Operating Segments | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales		1,737	1,769	4,851	4,801
Operating profit		289	316	763	895
Total assets		3,950		3,950		4,027
Operating Segments | Rotary and Mission Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales		3,346	2,162	9,653	6,306
Operating profit		247	245	678	687
Total assets		18,978		18,978		19,187
Operating Segments | Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales		2,280	2,208	6,630	6,723
Operating profit		450	265	1,034	883
Total assets		5,396		5,396		4,861
Intersegment elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales		601	511	1,802	1,483
Intersegment elimination | Aeronautics
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales		30	22	105	68
Intersegment elimination | Missiles and Fire Control
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales		81	86	225	241
Intersegment elimination | Rotary and Mission Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales		469	364	1,382	1,066
Intersegment elimination | Space Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total intersegment sales		21	$ 39	90	$ 108
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[2]	$ 12,403		$ 12,403		$ 10,481

[1] FAS pension expense and CAS pension costs reflect the reclassification for discontinued operations presentation of benefits related to former IS&GS salaried employees (See Note 7).

[2] 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.