Teledyne FLIR
A Teledyne Technologies company specializing in thermal imaging, infrared sensing, unmanned systems, and related security and defense technologies.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Teledyne FLIR is the thermal-imaging and sensing business formerly known as FLIR Systems. The name FLIR comes from “forward-looking infrared,” describing a class of imaging systems that detects infrared radiation and converts differences in heat into visible imagery or measurable data. The company supplies products and integrated technologies for defense, public safety, industrial inspection, transportation, maritime operations, border security, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and consumer applications. FLIR Systems was established in 1978 with the aim of making high-performance infrared imaging systems more practical and affordable, initially emphasizing airborne applications. Its technology portfolio later expanded from military and aerospace equipment into industrial cameras, detectors, security systems, machine-vision cameras, maritime electronics, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, and compact consumer accessories. This expansion was driven in part by acquisitions, including the infrared businesses of Hughes Aircraft, Agema Infrared Systems, Inframetrics, Indigo Systems, Raymarine, DVTEL, Point Grey Research, Prox Dynamics, Aeryon Labs, and Endeavor Robotics. The company became publicly traded in 1993. Its history also includes accounting-related controversies, shareholder litigation, regulatory action, and a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act settlement. These events resulted in leadership changes, financial restatements, auditor changes, and legal settlements. Despite those episodes, FLIR developed into a major supplier to government agencies and defense organizations. In 2020, approximately 31 percent of its revenue came from the U.S. federal government and its agencies, according to the company information summarized in the cited reference material. Its best-known product families include the FLIR ONE smartphone accessory, thermal cameras for professional and industrial use, security and surveillance systems, maritime cameras such as SeaFLIR, military night-vision and thermal sights, unmanned aircraft, and the Black Hornet nano-drone. FLIR systems are used for applications such as equipment maintenance, electrical and building inspection, firefighting, reconnaissance, force protection, maritime patrol, critical-infrastructure protection, law enforcement, and wildlife-protection programs. Teledyne Technologies announced an agreement to acquire FLIR Systems in January 2021 in a transaction valued at approximately $8 billion. The acquisition was completed in May 2021, after which FLIR Systems continued as Teledyne FLIR LLC. The business therefore operates as part of Teledyne’s broader portfolio of digital imaging, instrumentation, aerospace, defense, and industrial technology companies. Its current identity combines the established FLIR thermal-imaging brand with Teledyne’s corporate ownership and adjacent sensing capabilities.
History
FLIR Systems was founded in 1978 to develop relatively affordable, high-performance infrared imaging systems, initially for airborne use. The company was originally based in Tigard, Oregon, and moved to Portland in the mid-1990s. Its early development established the technical and commercial foundation for a business focused on converting infrared radiation into imagery useful for detection, navigation, surveillance, and measurement. The company expanded through acquisitions. In 1990 it bought the industrial infrared imaging group of Hughes Aircraft. It completed an initial public offering in June 1993, raising $12 million. In 1998 it acquired Sweden’s Agema Infrared Systems for approximately $80 million, followed in 1999 by the acquisition of Inframetrics. That period also brought serious governance and accounting difficulties. J. Kenneth Stringer III became president and chief executive officer in January 1999 but was removed by the board in 2000 because of accounting-practice errors. Earl Lewis succeeded him, PricewaterhouseCoopers was dismissed as auditor, and the company later faced shareholder litigation and a Securities and Exchange Commission settlement. Three executives were charged with fraudulent accounting. FLIR continued broadening its technical base. In 2004 it purchased a Wilsonville, Oregon, building from Mentor Graphics for use as headquarters and acquired Indigo Systems for $190 million. Indigo supplied cooled and uncooled infrared detectors, camera cores, and completed cameras. FLIR later faced a trade-secrets dispute involving Indigo’s founders and agreed to a $39 million settlement in 2011. The company also expanded into industrial instrumentation, security, maritime electronics, and sensing through acquisitions such as Extech Instruments, Ifara Tecnologias, Directed Perception, Raymarine, and Lorex Technology. Extech Data Systems was sold in 2009, while Lorex was later sold to Dahua Technology in 2018. The business’s public-company history included another accounting controversy. In 2007 FLIR said it would restate financial statements from 1995 through 2005 in connection with stock-options backdating. Investor lawsuits related to the issue were dismissed in November 2007. In 2015, FLIR paid $9.5 million to settle U.S. allegations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act concerning benefits provided to Saudi Arabian officials. The Securities and Exchange Commission said the conduct generated more than $7 million in profits from influenced sales. From the mid-2000s onward, FLIR also developed automotive and security applications. It began supplying imaging technology to BMW vehicles in 2005 and acquired DVTEL in 2015 to strengthen video-surveillance capabilities. Point Grey Research was acquired in 2016, bringing the Blackfly, Dragonfly, Grasshopper, and Brickstream camera lines. Prox Dynamics, maker of the Black Hornet nano-drone, was acquired later that year. In 2017 FLIR supported the World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Crime Technology Project, deploying thermal cameras and related systems to help combat poaching in African game reserves. The company’s unmanned-systems portfolio grew through the 2019 acquisitions of Aeryon Labs and Endeavor Robotics. Aeryon added unmanned aircraft capabilities, while Endeavor supplied unmanned ground vehicles for military, public-safety, and critical-infrastructure users. FLIR also acquired patents for tethered-drone technology from Aria Insights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it introduced thermal cameras intended to identify elevated skin temperature, causing a surge in demand. In January 2021 Teledyne Technologies announced an approximately $8 billion agreement to acquire FLIR Systems. The transaction closed in May 2021, and FLIR Systems became Teledyne FLIR LLC. The business retained the FLIR brand while operating within Teledyne’s broader industrial, aerospace, defense, and digital-imaging group. In 2022 it received a $48.7 million award connected with MARFLIR II sensors and SeaFLIR 280-HD surveillance-system variants for the U.S. Coast Guard.
- 2022
MARFLIR II and SeaFLIR award
[1]The company receives a $48.7 million U.S. Coast Guard award for maritime infrared sensors and surveillance-system variants.
- 2021
Teledyne acquisition closes
[1]FLIR Systems becomes Teledyne FLIR LLC after Teledyne Technologies completes its acquisition.
- 2019
Unmanned-systems expansion
[1]Aeryon Labs and Endeavor Robotics join FLIR, expanding its airborne and ground robotic systems.
- 2016
Point Grey Research and Prox Dynamics acquired
[1]FLIR expands its machine-vision camera portfolio and acquires the Black Hornet nano-drone business.
- 2015
DVTEL acquired
[1]The acquisition adds software and hardware for advanced video surveillance.
- 2010
Raymarine acquired
[1]FLIR acquires bankrupt marine-electronics manufacturer Raymarine for $180 million.
- 2005
Automotive imaging supply begins with BMW
[1]FLIR begins supplying imaging technology for BMW vehicles.
- 2004
Indigo Systems acquired
[1]FLIR acquires Indigo Systems, strengthening its cooled and uncooled detector, camera-core, and camera businesses.
- 1998
Agema Infrared Systems acquired
[1]The Swedish infrared-system company joins FLIR in a transaction valued at approximately $80 million.
- 1993
Initial public offering
[1]FLIR becomes a public company through an offering that raises $12 million.
Products and positioning
A specialist provider of infrared imaging and sensing technologies serving defense, public safety, industrial, maritime, scientific, and consumer markets.
Consumer thermal-imaging accessory
FLIR ONE
FLIR ONE is a compact thermal camera designed to connect with a smartphone or mobile device. It enables users to visualize heat differences for tasks such as finding water or air leaks, inspecting buildings, checking electrical equipment, and conducting basic troubleshooting. The product is subject to a nine-frames-per-second limitation described as related to U.S. regulatory concerns.
Portable thermal-imaging camera
FLIR Scout
The FLIR Scout family consists of portable thermal-imaging devices intended for observation in low-light or nighttime conditions. Products in this category support outdoor users, public-safety personnel, wildlife observers, and security applications by displaying heat signatures that may not be visible through ordinary optical cameras.
Maritime electro-optical and infrared surveillance
SeaFLIR
SeaFLIR systems provide stabilized electro-optical and infrared observation for maritime surveillance, navigation, patrol, search and rescue, and force-protection missions. The family is used in government and defense contexts, including systems supplied for U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
Military clip-on night-vision and thermal sight
AN/PVS-22 Universal Night Sight
The AN/PVS-22, also known as the Universal Night Sight, is a clip-on sight derived from the MilSight 105 platform. It is designed for long-range engagement and is described as capable of handling recoil up to .50 BMG. The system was originally co-designed by Knight’s Armament Company and OSTI for U.S. Special Operations Command-related use.
Nano unmanned aerial vehicle
Black Hornet Nano
Black Hornet is a very small unmanned aircraft designed for military and law-enforcement reconnaissance and surveillance. FLIR obtained the product through its acquisition of Prox Dynamics in 2016. Its small size supports short-range situational awareness missions where a conventional aircraft or larger drone would be less practical.
Controversies
2015
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act settlement
FLIR paid $9.5 million to settle allegations concerning a tour arranged for Saudi Arabian officials. The SEC said the conduct influenced sales that generated more than $7 million in profit.
2011
Indigo Systems trade-secrets litigation
Following a trade-secrets claim involving the founders of Indigo Systems, FLIR agreed to pay $39 million to settle a countersuit.
2007
Options-backdating restatement
FLIR announced a restatement of financial statements for 1995–2005 related to stock-options backdating. Investor lawsuits connected with the issue were dismissed later that year.
2002
SEC accounting settlement
FLIR settled with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, while three executives were charged with fraudulent accounting.
2000
Accounting-practice controversy and executive removal
President and CEO J. Kenneth Stringer III was removed by the board after errors in the company’s accounting practices. The company also changed auditors and later faced litigation and regulatory action.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Wildlife Crime Technology Project
Namibia · Kenya · South Africa · Malawi · Zimbabwe
FLIR partnered with the World Wildlife Fund on a wildlife-protection initiative supported by a $5 million Google grant. Thermal cameras, drones, digital tracking systems, and related tools were deployed in game reserves to help detect and deter poaching.
Outcome. The project placed FLIR thermal-imaging equipment in anti-poaching operations across several African countries; a broader quantified outcome is not specified in the cited material.
Brand decisions
2021
Accept Teledyne Technologies acquisitionM&ABackground
FLIR sought to combine its infrared imaging and sensing portfolio with Teledyne’s industrial, aerospace, defense, and digital-imaging businesses.
Action taken
Teledyne Technologies agreed to acquire FLIR Systems for approximately $8 billion; the transaction closed in May 2021.
Aftermath
FLIR Systems continued as Teledyne FLIR LLC and became a Teledyne subsidiary.
Transaction value. Approximately $8 billion (Announced January 2021; completed May 2021)
2020
Introduce elevated-skin-temperature thermal camerasProduct launchBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for technologies used in screening and monitoring environments.
Action taken
FLIR released thermal-camera products intended to identify elevated skin temperature.
Aftermath
Demand surged and created supply-chain pressure.
2004
Move headquarters to WilsonvilleStrategyBackground
FLIR needed a larger or more suitable corporate facility as its Oregon operations developed.
Action taken
The company purchased a building in Wilsonville, Oregon, from Mentor Graphics for $10.3 million and used it as its headquarters.
Aftermath
Wilsonville became the company’s principal headquarters location.
Acquisition price. $10.3 million (2004)
Recent events
Reported
Teledyne FLIR introduces Neutrino camera models[2]
Teledyne FLIR introduced the Neutrino SX8 mid-wavelength infrared camera module and four additional Neutrino IS Series models.
Reported
Teledyne announces executive promotions[3]
Teledyne announced that Edwin Roks was promoted to Executive Vice President and Todd Booth to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the acquired Teledyne FLIR group of businesses, effective May 17, 2021.
Reported
Teledyne completes acquisition of FLIR Systems[4]
Teledyne Technologies completed its acquisition of FLIR Systems. FLIR was included in Teledyne’s Digital Imaging segment and began operating under the name Teledyne FLIR.
Reported
Teledyne promotes Edwin Roks and Todd Booth[4]
Teledyne announced executive promotions effective May 17: Edwin Roks became executive vice president while continuing as president of its Digital Imaging Segment, and Todd Booth was promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer for the acquired Teledyne FLIR group of businesses.
Sources6 sources
- 1Teledyne FLIRen.wikipedia.org
- 2Teledyne FLIR 推出 Neutrino 摄像机型号azooptics.com
- 3Teledyne宣布高管晋升marinelink.com
- 4Teledyne 完成对 FLIR Systems 的收购iconnect007.com
- 5Teledyne FLIR expands VS290 thermal camera videoscope family with two additional kitssourcesecurity.com
- 6Teledyne FLIR introduces Neutrino SX8 mid-wavelength infrared camera module and four Neutrino IS series models with integrated continuous zoom lensessourcesecurity.com
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