Teledyne FLIR (FLIR) 10-K 3 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2014	Jun. 28, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'FLIR SYSTEMS INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000354908	'	'
Trading Symbol	'FLIR	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	140,878,393	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$3,793,399,921

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_INC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'
Revenue	$1,496,372	$1,405,358	$1,544,062
Cost of goods sold	759,362	670,174	714,743
Gross profit	737,010	735,184	829,319
Operating Expenses [Abstract]	'	'	'
Research and development	147,696	137,354	147,177
Selling, general and administrative	322,739	292,500	368,947
Restructuring expenses	25,832	2,000	0
Total operating expenses	496,267	431,854	516,124
Earnings from operations	240,743	303,330	313,195
Interest expense	14,091	11,659	5,487
Interest income	-1,058	-1,582	-1,273
Other expense (income), net	-1,276	1,341	-2,098
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	228,986	291,912	311,079
Income tax provision	51,971	66,556	88,427
Earnings from continuing operations	177,015	225,356	222,652
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	-2,958	-1,178
Net earnings	$177,015	$222,398	$221,474
Basic earnings per share:	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$1.24	$1.49	$1.41
Discontinued operations	$0	($0.02)	($0.01)
Basic earnings per share	$1.24	$1.47	$1.40
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'
Continuing operations	$1.22	$1.47	$1.38
Discontinued operations	$0	($0.02)	($0.01)
Diluted earnings per share	$1.22	$1.45	$1.38

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net earnings	$177,015	$222,398	$221,474
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'	'
Pension plans	2,961	745	-1,113
Fair value adjustment on interest rate swap contracts	1,660	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	11,838	20,790	-12,533
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	16,459	21,535	-13,646
Comprehensive income	$193,474	$243,933	$207,828

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax	$1,682	$558	($653)

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$542,476	$321,739
Accounts receivable, net	286,573	335,163
Inventories	344,719	379,080
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	97,574	98,304
Deferred income taxes, net	38,389	30,960
Total current assets	1,309,731	1,165,246
Property and equipment, net	234,041	211,615
Deferred income taxes, net	17,883	32,223
Goodwill	575,701	564,306
Intangible assets, net	154,195	175,823
Other assets	51,808	41,442
Assets, Total	2,343,359	2,190,655
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	85,730	94,156
Deferred revenue	28,844	29,465
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	62,069	41,506
Accrued product warranties	14,665	13,169
Advance payments from customers	25,414	12,150
Accrued expenses	39,316	32,772
Accrued income taxes	663	11,943
Other current liabilities	4,814	6,406
Current portion, long-term debt	15,000	0
Total current liabilities	276,515	241,567
Long-term debt	372,528	248,319
Deferred income taxes	12,255	19,071
Accrued income taxes	19,996	22,812
Pension and other long-term liabilities	48,685	58,985
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 12 and 13)	'	'
Shareholders' equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized; no shares issued at December 31, 2013 or 2012	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 140,782 and 145,814 shares issued at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and additional paid-in capital	42,955	171,546
Retained earnings	1,544,425	1,418,814
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	26,000	9,541
Total shareholders' equity	1,613,380	1,599,901
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$2,343,359	$2,190,655

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000	10,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000	500,000
Common stock, shares issued	140,782	145,814

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_SHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010	$1,522,548	$465,467	$1,055,429	$1,652
Balance (in shares) at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010	'	159,212	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Net earnings for the year	221,474	'	221,474	'
Income tax benefit of common stock options exercised	5,545	5,545	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	'	-6,135	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-160,669	-160,669	'	'
Common stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans, net (in shares)	'	1,892	'	'
Common stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans, net	16,751	16,751	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	25,063	25,063	'	'
Dividends paid	-38,037	'	-38,037	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-13,646	'	'	-13,646
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	1,579,029	352,157	1,238,866	-11,994
Balance (in shares) at end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	'	154,969	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Net earnings for the year	222,398	'	222,398	'
Income tax benefit of common stock options exercised	39	39	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	'	-10,466	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-214,195	-214,195	'	'
Common stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans, net (in shares)	'	1,311	'	'
Common stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans, net	7,644	7,644	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	25,901	25,901	'	'
Dividends paid	-42,450	'	-42,450	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	21,535	'	'	21,535
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	1,599,901	171,546	1,418,814	9,541
Balance (in shares) at end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	'	145,814	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Net earnings for the year	177,015	'	177,015	'
Income tax benefit of common stock options exercised	551	551	'	'
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	'	-5,988	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-162,078	-162,078	'	'
Common stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans, net (in shares)	'	956	'	'
Common stock issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans, net	4,849	4,849	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	28,087	28,087	'	'
Dividends paid	-51,404	'	-51,404	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	16,459	'	'	16,459
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$1,613,380	$42,955	$1,544,425	$26,000
Balance (in shares) at end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	'	140,782	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Net earnings	$177,015	$222,398	$221,474
Income items not affecting cash:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	62,796	59,715	77,498
Deferred income taxes	-2,709	-10,940	-12,195
Stock-based compensation arrangements	27,823	26,250	24,917
Other non-cash items	4,564	-1,810	12,654
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:	'	'	'
Decrease in accounts receivable	48,640	10,693	17,992
Decrease (increase) in inventories	35,181	-23,733	-48,361
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,434	-1,004	-11,104
(Increase) decrease in other assets	-1,520	1,879	-5,589
Decrease in accounts payable	-8,617	-1,672	-5,565
(Decrease) increase in deferred revenue	-659	1,153	5,426
Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and other liabilities	36,017	-25,415	-25,599
(Decrease) increase in accrued income taxes	-18,898	20,141	-9,865
(Decrease) Increase in pension and other long-term liabilities	-10,102	7,890	2,208
Cash provided by operating activities	354,965	285,545	243,891
CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Additions to property and equipment	-52,061	-58,089	-41,946
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-20,073	-105,909	-27,182
Other investments	0	-3,002	1,991
Cash used by investing activities	-72,134	-167,000	-67,137
CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Net proceeds of long-term debt, including current portion	150,000	0	247,708
Repayment of long-term debt	-11,250	0	0
Repurchase of common stock	-162,078	-214,195	-160,669
Dividends paid	-51,404	-42,450	-38,037
Proceeds from shares issued pursuant to stock-based compensation plans	8,650	11,198	21,706
Excess tax benefit of stock options exercised	1,069	1,284	5,195
Other financing activities	-1,100	-166	-458
Cash (used) provided by financing activities	-66,113	-244,329	75,445
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	4,019	6,677	-4,490
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	220,737	-119,107	247,709
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	321,739	440,846	193,137
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$542,476	$321,739	$440,846

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
	FLIR Systems, Inc. (the "Company") is a world leader in sensor systems that enhance perception and awareness. The Company was founded in 1978 and has since become a premier designer, manufacturer, and marketer of thermal imaging and other sensing products and systems. The Company’s advanced sensors and integrated sensor systems enable the gathering and analysis of critical information through a wide variety of applications in commercial, industrial, and government markets worldwide.
	The Company’s goal is to both enable its customers to benefit from the valuable information produced by advanced sensing technologies and to deliver sustained superior financial performance for its shareholders. The Company creates value for its customers by providing advanced surveillance and tactical defense capabilities, improving personal and public safety and security, facilitating air, ground, and maritime navigation, enhancing enjoyment of the outdoors, providing infrastructure inefficiency information, conveying pre-emptive structural deficiency data, displaying process irregularities, and enabling commercial business opportunities through its continual support and development of new thermal imaging data and analytics applications. The Company’s business model meets the needs of a multitude of customers—it sells off-the-shelf products to a wide variety of markets in an efficient, timely, and affordable manner as well as offers a variety of system configurations to suit specific customer requirements. Centered on the design of products for low cost manufacturing and high volume distribution, the Company’s commercial operating model has been developed over time and provides it with a unique ability to adapt to market changes and meet its customers’ needs.
	Principles of consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated.
	Reclassification
	The Company made certain reclassifications to the prior years' financial statements to conform them to the presentation as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013. The reclassifications included certain severance expenses of $3.8 million and $0.7 million recognized during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that were originally reported in cost of goods sold and are now reported as operating expenses, and certain demonstration assets of $2.3 million that were originally reported as inventory at December 31, 2012 that are now reported in other current assets. In addition, the December 31, 2012 balance sheet has been adjusted for the purchase price accounting that was completed during 2013 associated with the acquisitions of Lorex Technology Inc. ("Lorex") and Traficon International NV ("Traficon"). See Note 7, "Goodwill," Note 8, "Intangible Assets," Note 14, "Income Taxes," and Note 18, "Business Acquisitions" for additional information. These reclassifications had no effect on consolidated financial position, shareholders' equity or net cash flows for any of the periods presented.
	Foreign currency translation
	The assets and liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries outside the United States are translated into United States dollars at current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive earnings within shareholders’ equity. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are reflected as other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income as incurred.
	The cumulative translation adjustment included in accumulated other comprehensive earnings is a gain of $26.5 million and a gain of $14.7 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Transaction gains and losses included in other income, net, are a net loss of $0.3 million, a net loss of $3.0 million, and a net gain of $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Note 1.	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
	Revenue recognition
	Revenue is primarily recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, upon delivery of the product to the customer at a fixed or determinable price with a reasonable assurance of collection, passage of title and risk of loss to the customer as indicated by the shipping terms and fulfillment of all significant obligations.
	The Company designs, markets and sells products primarily as commercial, off-the-shelf products. Certain customers request different system configurations, based on standard options or accessories that the Company offers. In general, revenue arrangements do not involve acceptance provisions based upon customer specified acceptance criteria. In those limited circumstances when customer specified acceptance criteria exist, revenue is deferred until customer acceptance if the Company cannot demonstrate the system meets those specifications prior to shipment. For any contracts with multiple elements (i.e., training, installation, additional parts, etc.) the Company allocates revenue among the deliverables primarily based upon objective and reliable evidence of fair value of each element in the arrangement. If objective and reliable evidence of fair value of any element is not available, we use an estimated selling price for purposes of allocating the total arrangement consideration among the elements. Credit is not extended to customers and revenue is not recognized until the Company has determined that the risk of uncollectability is minimal.
	The Company’s products are sold with warranty provisions that require it to remedy deficiencies in quality or performance of the Company’s products over a specified period of time, generally twelve to twenty-four months, at no cost to its customers. Warranty liabilities are established at the time that revenue is recognized at levels that represent the Company’s estimate of the costs that will be incurred to fulfill those warranty requirements.
	Provisions for estimated losses on sales or related receivables are recorded when identified. Revenue includes certain shipping and handling costs and is stated net of representative commissions and sales taxes. Service revenue is deferred and recognized over the contract period, as is the case for extended warranty contracts, or recognized as services are provided.
	Cost of goods sold
	Cost of goods sold includes materials, labor and overhead costs incurred in the manufacturing of products and services sold in the period as well as warranty costs. Material costs include raw materials, purchased components and sub-assemblies, outside processing and inbound freight costs. Labor and overhead costs consist of direct and indirect manufacturing costs, including wages and fringe benefits, operating supplies, depreciation, occupancy costs, and purchasing, receiving and inspection costs.
	Research and development
	Expenditures for research and development activities are expensed as incurred.
	Cash equivalents
	The Company considers short-term investments that are highly liquid, readily convertible into cash and have maturities of less than three months when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $28.5 million and $5.9 million, respectively, which were primarily investments in money market funds.
	Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts
	Accounts receivable are stated at the amounts the Company expects to collect. Credit limits are established through a process of reviewing the financial history and stability of each customer. The Company regularly evaluates the collectability of its trade receivables balances based on a combination of factors. If it is determined that a customer will be unable to fully meet its financial obligation, the Company records a specific allowance to reduce the related receivable to the amount expected to be recovered. In addition, the Company also records an allowance for all other customers based on certain other factors including the length of time the receivables are past due and historical collection experience with individual customers.
	Note 1.	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
	Inventories
	Inventories are generally stated at the lower of cost or market and include materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead. Cost is determined based on a currently adjusted standard cost basis that approximates actual manufacturing cost on a first-in, first-out basis.
	Inventory write-downs are recorded when conditions exist to indicate that inventories are likely to be in excess of anticipated demand or are obsolete based upon the Company’s assumptions about future demand for its products and market conditions. The Company regularly evaluates its ability to realize the value of inventories based on a combination of factors including the following: historical usage rates, forecasted sales or usage, product end of life dates, estimated current and future market values and new product introductions. When recorded, write-downs reduce the carrying value of the Company’s inventories to their net realizable value and create a new cost-basis in the inventories. Write-downs are reflected in cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
	Demonstration units
	The Company’s products which are being used as demonstration units are stated at the lower of cost or market and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Demonstration units are available for sale and the Company periodically evaluates them as to marketability and realizable values. The carrying value of demonstration units was $42.7 million and $35.8 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Property and equipment
	Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated using a straight-line methodology over their estimated useful lives. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.
	Goodwill
	Goodwill is reviewed during the third quarter of each year, or more frequently if warranted, for impairment to determine if events or changes in business conditions indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. See Note 7, "Goodwill," for additional information.
	Intangible assets
	Intangible assets are amortized using a straight-line methodology over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are evaluated annually for impairment, or more frequently if required. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges on intangible assets with indefinite lives during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
	Impairment of long-lived assets
	Long-lived asset groups are reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment exists when the carrying value is greater than the expected undiscounted future cash flows expected to be provided by the asset group. If impairment exists, the asset group is written down to its fair value. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges on long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
	Advertising costs
	Advertising costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $10.7 million, $8.5 million and $11.1 million, respectively.
	Cost-basis investments
	The Company has private company investments, which consist of investments for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, and are accounted for under the cost method. The investments are carried at cost and adjusted only when the Company believes that events have occurred that are likely to have a significant other-than-temporary adverse effect on the estimated fair value of the investments. If no such events have occurred, the fair value of the investments is not calculated as it is not practicable to do so. The carrying value of those investments was $13.5 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012. The investments are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	Note 1.	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
	Contingencies
	The Company is subject to the possibility of loss contingencies arising in the normal course of business. An estimated loss is accrued when the Company determines that it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company regularly evaluates current available information to determine whether such accruals should be adjusted.
	Earnings per share
	Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed similar to basic earnings per share except that the weighted shares outstanding are increased to include additional shares from the assumed exercise of stock options, if dilutive, assumed issuance of unvested restricted stock awards and from the assumed conversion of the convertible notes.
	The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerator and denominator utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Numerator for earnings per share:
	Earnings from continuing operations	$	177,015			$	225,356			$	222,652
	Loss from discontinued operations	—				(2,958		)		(1,178		)
	Net earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share	$	177,015			$	222,398			$	221,474
	Denominator for earnings per share:
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	142,446				151,634				158,323
	Assumed exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, net of shares assumed reacquired under the treasury stock method	2,149				1,960				2,528
	Diluted shares outstanding	144,595				153,594				160,851
	The effect of stock-based compensation awards for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 that aggregated 549,000, 1,198,000 and 352,000 shares have been excluded for purposes of diluted earnings per share since the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
	Supplemental cash flow disclosure (in thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Cash paid for:
Interest	$	12,922			$	10,239			$	1,119
Taxes	$	88,277			$	74,333			$	106,215
Note 1.	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
Stock-based compensation
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards and shares expected to be issued under the Company's employee stock purchase plan. Nonvested stock awards (referred to as restricted stock unit awards) are valued at the fair market value of the Company's stock, discounted for dividends, on the date of grant, except for market-based restricted stock units for which the fair value is determined on the date of grant using a lattice-based option-pricing valuation model that incorporates a Monte-Carlo simulation. The Company recognizes the compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of each award.
The following table sets forth the stock-based compensation expense and related tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
	Year Ended December 31,
	2013				2012				2011
Cost of goods sold	$	2,591			$	3,197			$	3,306
Research and development	4,938				5,001				5,195
Selling, general and administrative	20,294				18,052				16,416
Stock-based compensation expense before income taxes	27,823				26,250				24,917
Income tax benefit	(8,598		)		(7,737		)		(6,976		)
Total stock-based compensation expense after income taxes	$	19,225			$	18,513			$	17,941
Stock-based compensation expense capitalized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
	December 31,
	2013				2012				2011
Capitalized in inventory	$	734			$	470			$	819
As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $42.7 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation costs, net of estimated forfeitures, to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.
The fair value of the stock-based awards granted in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was estimated with the following weighted-average assumptions:
	2013			2012			2011
Stock option awards:
Risk-free interest rate	0.3	%		0.4	%		1	%
Expected dividend yield	1.5	%		1.3	%		0.7	%
Expected term	4.3 years			4.2 years			4.3 years
Expected volatility	33.7	%		39.7	%		42.3	%
Market-based restricted stock awards:
Risk-free interest rate	0.3	%		0.4	%		N/A
Expected dividend yield	0	%		0	%		N/A
Expected term	2.2 years			3.0 years			N/A
Expected volatility	28.8	%		30.7	%		N/A
Expected volatility of S&P 500	18.1	%		19.6	%		N/A
Employee stock purchase plan:
Risk-free interest rate	0.1	%		0.2	%		0.1	%
Expected dividend yield	1.4	%		1.3	%		0.8	%
Expected term	6 months			6 months			6 months
Expected volatility	28.1	%		25.2	%		33.1	%
Note 1.	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
The Company uses the United States Treasury (constant maturity) interest rate on the date of grant as the risk-free interest rate and uses historical volatility as the expected volatility. The Company’s determination of expected term is based on an analysis of historical and expected exercise patterns. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, all stock options granted were time-based options. The Company uses an estimated forfeiture rate of 5 percent of the stock-compensation expense of non-executive employees based on an analysis of historical and expected forfeitures.
During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company granted approximately 1,173,000, 985,000 and 534,000 time-vested restricted stock units, respectively. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company granted approximately 101,000 performance-based restricted stock units. The fair value of time-vested and performance-based restricted stock units is fixed and determined on the date of grant based upon the Company's stock price on the date of grant. The weighted average fair values of the time-vested and performance-based restricted stock units granted during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $23.98, $21.66 and $34.35, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company also granted approximately 7,000 and 795,000 market-based restricted stock units, respectively. These units may be earned based upon the Company's total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder return of the S&P 500 Index over a three year period. The fair value of the market-based restricted stock units granted during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $15.87 and $11.73, respectively. The total fair value of the restricted stock unit awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 in the table below of $28.2 million and $30.7 million includes $0.1 million and $9.3 million, respectively, of grant date fair value associated with the market-based restricted stock units.
The weighted-average fair value of stock-based compensation awards granted and vested, and the intrinsic value of options exercised during the period were (in thousands, except per share amounts):
	Years Ended December 31,
	2013				2012				2011
Stock option awards:
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$	5.92			$	6.43			$	11.61
Total fair value of awards granted	$	6,095			$	4,104			$	4,613
Total fair value of awards vested	$	5,059			$	6,023			$	8,492
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$	4,642			$	5,928			$	21,234
Restricted stock unit awards:
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$	23.94			$	17.23			$	34.35
Total fair value of awards granted	$	28,239			$	30,660			$	21,822
Total fair value of awards vested	$	13,846			$	12,710			$	19,865
Employee stock purchase plan:
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$	5.94			$	4.66			$	6.99
Total fair value of shares estimated to be issued	$	1,169			$	1,694			$	2,359
The total amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $4.6 million, $3.6 million and $13.8 million, respectively, and the related tax benefit realized from the exercise of the stock options was $0.6 million, $0.1 million and $5.5 million, respectively.
The Company elected to adopt the “long-haul” method to calculate the historical pool of windfall tax benefits, which calculates on a grant by grant basis, the windfall or excess tax benefit that arose upon the exercise of each stock option, based on a comparison to the total tax deduction to the “as-if” deferred tax asset that would have been recorded had the Company followed the recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation,” since its effective date of January 1, 2006. Additionally, the Company elected to adopt the “tax-law ordering” method of measuring the timing in which tax deductions on stock option exercises should be recognized in the consolidated financial statements.
Note 1.	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
Concentration of risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited because a relatively large number of geographically diverse customers make up the Company’s customer base, thus diversifying the trade credit risk. The Company controls credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. The Company performs credit evaluations for all new customers and requires letters of credit, bank guarantees and advanced payments, if deemed necessary.
A substantial portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from sales to United States and foreign government agencies (see Note 17, "Operating Segments and Related Information"). The Company also purchases certain key components from sole or limited source suppliers.
The Company maintains cash deposits with major banks that from time to time may exceed federally insured limits. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of the institutions and instruments in which it invests, and adjusts its investment balances to mitigate the risk of principal loss.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and judgments made by management of the Company include matters such as collectability of accounts receivable, realizability of inventories, recoverability of deferred tax assets, impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets, loss contingencies and adequacy of warranty accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company believes that the estimates used are reasonable.
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings includes cumulative translation adjustments, fair value adjustments on cash flow hedges and changes in minimum liability for pension plans. Foreign currency translation adjustments included in comprehensive income were not tax affected as investments in international affiliates are deemed to be indefinite in duration.
The following table sets forth the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31. 2013:
		Pension Plans				Cash Flow				Foreign		Total
		Items				Hedge Items				Currency
										Items
Balance, December 31, 2012		$	(5,127	)		$	—			$	14,668	$	9,541
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		184				1,105				11,838		13,127
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of tax		2,777				555				—		3,332
Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax		2,961				1,660				11,838		16,459
Balance, December 31, 2013		$	(2,166	)		$	1,660			$	26,506	$	26,000
The amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings for pension plan items have been recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses and amounts reclassified for cash flow hedge items have been recorded to interest expense in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Note 1.	Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies—(Continued)
Recent accounting pronouncements
In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, "Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" ("ASU 2013-02") which establishes new requirements for disclosing reclassifications of items out of accumulated other comprehensive income and includes identification of the line items in net earnings affected by the reclassifications. ASU 2013-02 is effective for annual and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012. Accordingly, the Company adopted ASU 2013-02 on January 1, 2013.
In March 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-05, "Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity" ("ASU 2013-05") which addresses the accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity. ASU 2013-05 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Accordingly, the Company currently intends to adopt ASU 2013-05 on January 1, 2015 and does not expect the adoption of ASU 2013-05 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11, "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists" ("ASU 2013-11"). ASU 2013-11 amends the guidance related to the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits and allows for the reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. ASU 2013-11 is effective for annual and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013, and early adoption is permitted. Since ASU 2013-11 relates only to the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits, we do not expect our adoption of ASU 2013-11 in January 2014 will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The Company had $28.5 million and $5.9 million of cash equivalents at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which were primarily investments in money market funds. The Company has categorized its cash equivalents as a Level 1 financial asset, measured at fair value based on quoted prices in active markets of identical assets, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.” All cash equivalents are in instruments that are convertible to cash daily. The fair value of the Company’s forward currency contracts and interest rate swap contracts as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are disclosed in Note 3, "Derivative Financial Instruments," and based on Level 2 inputs. The fair value of the Company’s senior unsecured notes as described in Note 11, "Long-Term Debt," is approximately $259.5 million based upon Level 2 inputs at December 31, 2013. The fair value of the Company's term loan, also described in Note 11, approximates the carrying value due to the variable market rate used to calculate interest payments. The Company does not have any other significant financial assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value.
	The carrying amount of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued payroll and related liabilities approximates the fair value of those instruments due to their short-term nature.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen

Derivative Financial Instruments (notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure	'
	Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
	The Company’s foreign businesses enter into contracts with customers and vendors that are denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies. To protect the functional currency equivalent cash flows associated with certain of these contracts, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts. The Company’s activities involving foreign currency forward contracts are designed to hedge the changes in the functional currency equivalent cash flows due to movements in foreign exchange rates compared to the functional currency. The foreign currencies hedged are primarily the euro and the Swedish kroner. The Company manages exposure to counterparty non-performance credit risk by entering into foreign currency forward contracts only with major financial institutions that are expected to fully perform under the terms of such contracts. Gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts are recognized in income at the end of each reporting period based on the difference between the contract rate and the spot rate. The net amount of the gains and losses related to derivative instruments recorded in other expense for the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were a loss of $4.6 million, a gain of $5.1 million and a loss of $2.3 million, respectively.
	In general, these losses are offset in the Consolidated Statement of Income by the reciprocal gains from the underlying assets or liabilities which originally gave rise to the exposure.
	Note 3.	Derivative Financial Instruments - (Continued)
	Notional amounts are used to measure the volume of foreign currency forward contracts and do not represent exposure to foreign currency gains or losses. The table below presents the net notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding foreign currency forward contracts by currency at December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Swedish kronor	$	99,214		$	98,385
	Euro	265			2,232
	British pound sterling	5,641			15,619
	Australian dollar	5,986			7,022
	Japanese yen	4,462			5,157
	Other	6,362			622
		$	121,930		$	129,037
	At December 31, 2013, the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts, in general, had maturities of six months or less.
	The carrying amount of our derivative instruments included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Other Current Assets			Other Current Liabilities			Other Current Assets			Other Current Liabilities
	Foreign exchange contracts	$	392		$	613		$	2,106		$	229
	Interest Rates
	The Company's outstanding long-term debt at December 31, 2013 consists of fixed rate notes and a floating rate term loan. The Company maintains its floating rate revolver for flexibility to fund working capital needs and for other uses of cash. Interest expense on the Company's floating rate debt is typically calculated based on a fixed spread over a reference rate, such as LIBOR (also known as the Eurocurrency rate). Therefore, fluctuations in market interest rates will cause interest expense increases or decreases on a given amount of floating rate debt.
	The Company is managing its interest rate risk related to floating rate debt by entering into interest rate swaps in which the Company receives floating rate payments and makes fixed rate payments. The impact of the interest rate swaps is to fix the floating rate basis for the calculation of interest on the term loan at the levels indicated in the table below. The effective interest rate paid is equal to the fixed rates shown below plus the credit spread then in effect. At December 31, 2013, the effective interest rate on the term loan was 2.49 percent. As of December 31, 2013, the following interest rate swaps were outstanding:
	Contract Date		Notional Amount			Fixed Rate		Effective Date		Maturity Date
			(in millions)
	15-Mar-13		$	69.4		1.0165	%	5-Apr-13		31-Mar-19
	29-Mar-13		$	69.4		0.97	%	5-Apr-13		31-Mar-19
	These interest rate swaps are cash flow hedges and are recorded as an asset or liability in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value. Fair value adjustments are recorded as an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive (loss) earnings, except that any gains and losses on ineffectiveness of the interest rate swaps would be recorded as an adjustment to other expense (income). The net fair value carrying amount of the Company's interest rate swaps was $2.5 million, of which $3.5 million and $1.0 million have been recorded to other assets and other current liabilities, respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2013. The amount recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) during the year ended December 31, 2013 was a gain of $1.7 million, which is net of tax effects.

Accounts_Receivable

Accounts Receivable	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Allowance, and Net [Abstract]	'
Accounts Receivable	'
	Accounts Receivable
	Accounts receivable are net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The following table summarizes the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts and the activity for 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Allowance for doubtful accounts, beginning of year	$	6,574		$	5,556		$	5,104
	Charges to costs and expenses	1,571			2,383			1,699
	Write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries	(505		)	(1,055		)	(973		)
	Business acquisitions and disposals	—			(351		)	(148		)
	Currency translation adjustments	34			41			(126		)
	Allowance for doubtful accounts, end of year	$	7,674		$	6,574		$	5,556

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013		2012
				(as adjusted)
	Raw material and subassemblies	$	204,542	$	231,273
	Work-in-progress	45,060		50,644
	Finished goods	95,117		97,163
		$	344,719	$	379,080

Property_and_Equipment

Property and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property and Equipment	'
	Property and equipment are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated	December 31,
		Useful Life	2013			2012
	Land	—	$	25,254		$	23,194
	Buildings	30 years	115,206			109,587
	Machinery and equipment	3 to 7 years	237,179			186,303
	Office equipment and other	3 to 10 years	91,666			83,001
			469,305			402,085
	Less accumulated depreciation		(235,264		)	(190,470		)
			$	234,041		$	211,615
	Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $35.9 million, $35.3 million and $43.8 million, respectively.

Goodwill

Goodwill	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure - Goodwill - Additional Information [Abstract]	'
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company completed the purchase price accounting associated with the 2012 acquisitions of Lorex and Traficon resulting in an increase of goodwill of $61.2 million which was retrospectively adjusted. Also during 2013, the Company recorded goodwill in connection with its acquisition of Marine and Remote Sensing Solutions, Ltd. ("MARSS") and the acquisition of certain tangible assets and intellectual property from DigitalOptics Corporation East ("DOC Charlotte"). See Note 18, "Business Acquisitions," for additional information.
	The Company reviews its goodwill for impairment annually during the third quarter, or more frequently, if there is a triggering event. A two-step test is performed to assess goodwill for impairment. First, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is required. The second step is performed if the carrying value exceeds the fair value. The implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill must be determined and compared to the carrying value of the goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss equal to the difference will be recorded. In determining the fair value of the reporting units, the Company relied upon the Income Approach and the Market Approach. Under the Income Approach, the fair value of a business is based on the cash flows it can be expected to generate over its remaining life. The estimated cash flows are converted to their present value equivalent using an appropriate rate of return and are analyzed within the boundary of the overall market capitalization of the Company. Under the Market Approach, the fair value of the business is based on forecasted earnings multiplied by an average earnings multiplier of a group of the Company’s peers and compared to the net assets of each reporting unit.
	During the third quarter of 2013, the Company completed its annual review of goodwill and determined that no impairment of its recorded goodwill was necessary. As of December 31, 2013, there had been no triggering events or indicators of impairment that would require an updated impairment review.
	The carrying value of goodwill by reporting segment and the activity for the two year period ending December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
		Thermal Vision and Measurement		Raymarine		Surveillance		Detection		Integrated Systems		Total
	Balance, December 31, 2011	$	251,187	$	98,364	$	90,501	$	38,162	$	20,129	$	498,343
	Currency translation adjustments	2,039		2,380		316		—		—		4,735
	Balance, December 31, 2012	253,226		100,744		90,817		38,162		20,129		503,078
	(as originally reported)
	Retrospective adjustments	61,228		—		—		—		—		61,228
	Balance, December 31, 2012	314,454		100,744		90,817		38,162		20,129		564,306
	(as adjusted)
	Goodwill from acquisitions	2,401		—		—		—		2,463		4,864
	Currency translation adjustments	4,669		1,684		77		—		101		6,531
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	321,524	$	102,428	$	90,894	$	38,162	$	22,693	$	575,701

Intangible_Assets

Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		Weighted		December 31,
		Average
		Estimated
		Useful Life		2013			2012
							(as adjusted)
	Product technology	11 years		$	69,919		$	94,975
	Customer relationships	11 years		83,899			84,681
	Trademarks and tradename portfolios	15 years		7,160			7,160
	Tradename portfolio not subject to amortization	Indefinite		39,166			38,875
	Other	5 years		21,996			24,319
	Acquired identifiable intangibles			222,140			250,010
	Less accumulated amortization			(70,517		)	(78,328		)
	Net acquired identifiable intangibles			151,623			171,682
	Patents	17 years		4,471			4,464
	Less accumulated amortization			(3,989		)	(3,960		)
	Net patents			482			504
	Acquired in-place leases and other	6 years		9,333			9,150
	Less accumulated amortization			(7,243		)	(5,513		)
	Net acquired in-place leases and other			2,090			3,637
				$	154,195		$	175,823
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company acquired $0.4 million of identifiable intangible assets as part of the acquisition of MARSS and $2.5 million of identifiable intangible assets as part of the acquisition of certain tangible assets and intellectual property from DOC Charlotte. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company acquired $15.1 million of identifiable intangible assets as part of the acquisition of Lorex and $20.1 million as part of the acquisition of Traficon. Intangible assets at December 31, 2012 have been retrospectively adjusted for the purchase price accounting completed during 2013 associated with the Lorex and Traficon acquisitions. See Note 18, "Business Acquisitions."
	The aggregate amortization expense recorded in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $24.7 million, $24.4 million and $33.2 million, respectively. For intangible assets recorded at December 31, 2013, the estimated future aggregate amortization expense for the years ending December 31, 2014 through 2018 is approximately (in thousands):
	2014	$	21,450
	2015	16,510
	2016	12,025
	2017	11,544
	2018	9,391

Credit_Agreement

Credit Agreement	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]	'
Credit Agreements	'
	Credit Agreement
	On February 8, 2011, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. and other Lenders. The Credit Agreement provides for a $200 million, five-year revolving line of credit. On April 5, 2013, the Credit Agreement was amended to extend the maturity of the revolving credit facility from April 8, 2016 to April 5, 2018 in addition to incorporating a $150 million term loan facility maturing April 5, 2019. The amendment also incorporated a revised schedule of fees and interest rate spreads. The Company has the right, subject to certain conditions including approval of additional commitments by qualified lenders, to increase the revolving line of credit under the Credit Agreement by an additional $150 million at any time prior to April 5, 2018. The Credit Agreement allows the Company and certain designated subsidiaries to borrow in United States dollars, euros, Swedish kronor, pound sterling, Japanese yen, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars and other agreed upon currencies. Borrowing rates under the Credit Agreement are determined at the Company’s option at the time of each borrowing and are generally based on either the prime lending rate of Bank of America, N.A. or the rate of interest paid for deposits in the relevant currency, plus a specified spread based on an established consolidated total leverage ratio pricing grid, which specified margins ranging from 0.25 percent to 2.25 percent based on the type of loan and the total leverage ratio of the Company. Including the respective spreads, the one-month LIBOR interest rate was 1.669 percent and the prime lending rate was 3.75 percent at December 31, 2013. The Credit Agreement requires the Company to pay a commitment fee on the amount of unused revolving credit at a rate, based on the Company’s total leverage ratio, which commitment fee rate ranges from 0.25 percent to 0.40 percent of unused revolving commitments. At December 31, 2013, the commitment fee rate was 0.30 percent. The Credit Agreement contains two financial covenants that require the maintenance of a total leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio, with which the Company was in compliance at December 31, 2013. The credit facilities available under the Credit Agreement are unsecured. At December 31, 2013, the Company had no revolving loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement and had $19.5 million of letters of credit outstanding, which reduces the total available revolving credit under the Credit Agreement.

Accrued_Product_Warranties

Accrued Product Warranties	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Accrued Product Warranties	'
	Accrued Product Warranties
	The Company generally provides a twelve to twenty-four month warranty on its products. A provision for the estimated future costs of warranty, based upon historical cost and product performance experience, is recorded when revenue is recognized. The following table summarizes the Company’s warranty liability and activity for 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Accrued product warranties, beginning of year	$	16,152		$	16,046		$	18,686
	Amounts paid for warranty services	(10,372		)	(12,317		)	(11,849		)
	Warranty provisions for products sold	10,917			10,477			9,519
	Business acquisitions and disposals	—			839			(20		)
	Currency translation adjustments and other	1,035			1,107			(290		)
	Accrued product warranties, end of year	$	17,732		$	16,152		$	16,046
	Current accrued product warranties, end of year	$	14,665		$	13,169		$	13,370
	Long-term accrued product warranties, end of year	$	3,067		$	2,983		$	2,676

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt	'
	Long-Term Debt
	Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Unsecured notes	$	250,000		$	250,000
	Term loan	138,750			—
	Unamortized discounts and issuance costs of unsecured notes	(1,222		)	(1,681		)
		$	387,528		$	248,319
	Current portion, long-term debt	$	15,000		$	—
	Long-term debt	$	372,528		$	248,319
	In August 2011, the Company issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.75 percent senior unsecured notes due September 1, 2016 (the “Notes”). The net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes were approximately $247.7 million, after deducting underwriting fees and other offering expenses, which are being amortized over a period of five years. Interest is payable on the Notes semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1. The proceeds from the Notes are being used for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital and capital expenditure needs, business acquisitions and repurchases of the Company’s common stock.
	On April 5, 2013, the Company borrowed $150 million under the term loan facility incorporated in the Credit Agreement. Principal payments of $3.75 million are made quarterly and commenced on June 30, 2013 and will continue through December 31, 2018 with final maturity payment, including any interest due, on April 5, 2019. Interest is accrued at a one-month LIBOR rate, plus the scheduled spread and paid monthly. See Note 3, "Derivative Financial Instruments - Interest rates," for additional information on the effective interest rate on the term loan at December 31, 2013.

Commitments

Commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments [Abstract]	'
Commitments	'
	Commitments
	The Company leases some of its primary facilities under various operating leases that expire in 2014 through 2023. The Company also leases certain operating machinery and equipment and office equipment under operating lease agreements. Total net rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 amounted to $18.3 million, $13.6 million and $10.1 million, respectively.
	The future minimum obligations under all non-cancelable leases, net of expected sublease income, and other contractual obligations are as follows (in thousands):
		Net		Other
		Operating		Contractual
		Leases		Obligations
	2014	$	11,680	$	1,020
	2015	7,557		1,008
	2016	2,435		550
	2017	1,488		550
	2018	1,428		550
	Thereafter	1,718		—
	Total minimum payments	$	26,306	$	3,678

Contingencies

Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure - Contingencies - Additional Information [Abstract]	'
Contingencies	'
	Contingencies
	The Company and its subsidiary, Indigo Systems Corporation (now known as FLIR Commercial Systems, Inc.) (together, the “FLIR Parties”), were named in a lawsuit filed by Raytheon Company (“Raytheon”) on March 2, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Raytheon's complaint, as amended, asserted claims for tortious interference, patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, breach of contract and fraudulent concealment. The FLIR Parties filed an answer to the complaint on September 2, 2008, in which they denied all material allegations. On August 31, 2009, the court entered an order granting the FLIR Parties' motion for summary judgment on Raytheon's trade secret misappropriation claim based on the FLIR Parties' statute of limitations defense. Raytheon abandoned all of its other claims except its claims relating to four patents (the “Patent Claims”). On August 11, 2010, the FLIR Parties and Raytheon entered into an agreement in principle to resolve the remaining Patent Claims, which resulted in a payment of $3 million by the FLIR Parties to Raytheon and entitles the FLIR Parties to certain license rights in the patents that were the subject of the Patent Claims. The parties appealed certain rulings of the District Court to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit which on August 1, 2012 reversed the judgment of the District Court and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with the appellate court's opinion. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself in this matter and is unable to estimate the amount or range of potential loss, if any, which might result if the outcome in this matter is unfavorable.
	On May 20, 2011, the Company made a cash settlement payment of $39.0 million to resolve all pending claims in an action filed against the Company. In the settlement agreement, the Company also received a non-exclusive license to certain infrared technology.
	The Company is also subject to other legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company makes a provision for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company believes it has recorded adequate provisions for any probable and estimable losses. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, the Company does not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve such matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events and basis differences that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements and tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amount and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.
	Pre-tax earnings by significant geographical locations from continuing operations are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	United States	$	118,269			$	180,022			$	192,219
	Foreign	110,717				111,890				118,860
		$	228,986			$	291,912			$	311,079
	The provisions for income taxes from continuing operations are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Current tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	$	38,249			$	53,187			$	62,858
	State	4,413				(3,075		)		9,262
	Foreign	13,483				21,138				24,452
		56,145				71,250				96,572
	Deferred tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	(252		)		3,194				(5,185		)
	State	(335		)		1,887				(993		)
	Foreign	(3,587		)		(9,775		)		(1,967		)
		(4,174		)		(4,694		)		(8,145		)
	Total provision	$	51,971			$	66,556			$	88,427
	Note 14.	Income Taxes—(Continued)
	Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are composed of the following components (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013				2012
						(as adjusted)
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,295			$	1,123
	Accrued product warranties	3,069				3,099
	Inventory basis differences	11,421				9,225
	Accrued liabilities	8,987				7,206
	Deferred revenue	1,775				2,205
	Current net operating loss	7,449				8,085
	Other	(1,024		)		(1,025		)
	Foreign accrued liabilities	4,504				—
	Foreign other	913				1,042
	Net current deferred tax assets	$	38,389			$	30,960
	Net operating loss carry-forwards	$	6,143			$	11,588
	Credit carry-forwards	6,391				7,034
	Domestic depreciation	(5,455		)		(7,222		)
	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan	3,198				7,491
	Stock-based compensation	17,239				13,745
	Intangibles	(14,450		)		(15,999		)
	Accrued Liabilities	7,624				6,033
	Domestic other	1,416				4,018
	Foreign credit carry-forwards	—				3,590
	Foreign intangibles	—				(1,259		)
	Foreign net operating loss carry-forwards	760				8,119
	Foreign other	16				(78		)
	Valuation allowance	(4,999		)		(4,837		)
	Net long-term deferred tax assets	$	17,883			$	32,223
	Foreign credit carry-forwards	$	2,922			$	—
	Foreign depreciation	2,418				3,196
	Foreign intangibles	(18,528		)		(23,597		)
	Foreign net operating loss carry-forwards	8,930				5,336
	Foreign other	461				504
	Valuation allowance	(8,457		)		(4,510		)
	Net long-term deferred tax liabilities	$	(12,254	)		$	(19,071	)
	The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of tax determined by applying the applicable United States statutory federal income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following differences:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Statutory federal tax rate	35	%		35	%		35	%
	Increase (decrease) in rates resulting from:
Foreign rate differential	(11.6	)		(10.4	)		(3.8	)
Foreign, federal and state income tax credits	(2.2	)		(2.7	)		(2.9	)
State taxes	1			0.3			2.2
Non-deductible expenses	0.5			0.7			(1.2	)
Other	—			(0.1	)		(0.9	)
Effective tax rate	22.7	%		22.8	%		28.4	%
Note 14.	Income Taxes—(Continued)
The Company's foreign tax rate differential is primarily the result of a multi-year agreement, effective August 1, 2012, with a European jurisdiction as well as the impact of lower foreign statutory rates.
At December 31, 2013, the Company had United States tax net operating loss carry-forwards totaling approximately $39.8 million which expire between 2018 and 2031. In addition, the Company has various state net operating loss carry-forwards totaling approximately $75.1 million which expire between 2018 and 2033. The federal and state net operating losses were primarily generated by ICx Technologies, prior to the acquisition by the Company in 2010. Finally, the Company has various foreign net operating loss carry-forwards totaling approximately $101.5 million which expire between 2018 and 2033.
The tax benefits described above are accounted for using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of the assets and liabilities. To the extent that management assesses the realization of such assets to not be more likely than not, a valuation allowance is required to be recorded. We believe that the net deferred tax assets of $44.0 million reflected on the December 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheet are mostly realizable based on future forecasts of taxable income over a relatively short time horizon, but we have determined that a valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets of $13.5 million is required, primarily related to certain acquired net operating losses. A valuation allowance is required when it is more-likely-than-not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets may not be realized. A review of all available positive and negative evidence is considered, including past and future performance, the market environment in which the Company operates, utilization of tax attributes in the past, length of carryback and carryforward periods, and evaluation of potential tax planning strategies when evaluating the realizability of deferred tax assets. The Company may be required to record additional valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets in future periods if its future forecasts of taxable income are not achieved.
United States income taxes have not been provided on accumulated undistributed earnings of certain subsidiaries outside the United States, as the Company intends to reinvest the earnings in operations outside the United States indefinitely. As of December 31, 2013, the cumulative amount of earnings upon which United States income taxes have not been provided is approximately $799 million. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable.
The following table summarizes the activity related to unrecognized tax benefits, including amounts accrued for potential interest and penalties (in thousands):
	Year Ended December 31,
	2013				2012				2011
Balance, beginning of year	$	35,143			$	29,200			$	30,949
Increases related to current year tax positions	979				7,220				1,225
Increases related to prior year tax positions	714				1,559				4,192
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	(2,736		)		(343		)		(4,608		)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(2,012		)		(1,887		)		(2,558		)
Settlements	(2,555		)		(606		)		—
Balance, end of year	$	29,533			$	35,143			$	29,200
The unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 relate to the United States, United Kingdom and various foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $29.5 million of unrecognized tax benefits, $29.5 million of which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. Over the next twelve months, the Company expects to have minimal changes to its unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company classifies interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had $2.6 million of accrued interest and penalties ($2.5 million net of federal and state benefits) related to uncertain tax positions that are recorded as current and non-current accrued income taxes on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Note 14.	Income Taxes—(Continued)
The Company files United States, state and foreign income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. The Company currently has the following tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions:
	Tax Years:
United States Federal	2012
State of California	2008 – 2012
State of Massachusetts	2011 – 2012
State of Oregon	2012
Sweden	2008 – 2012
United Kingdom	2007 – 2012
Belgium	2011 - 2012

Stockbased_Compensation

Stock-based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Stock-based Compensation	'
	Stock-based Compensation
	Stock Incentive Plans
	The Company has a stock-based compensation program that provides equity incentives for employees, consultants and directors. This program includes incentive and non-statutory stock options and nonvested stock awards (referred to as restricted stock unit awards) granted under three plans: the FLIR Systems, Inc. 1993 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “1993 Plan”), the FLIR Systems, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”) and the FLIR Systems, Inc. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”). The Company has discontinued issuing awards out of the 1993 Plan and the 2002 Plan but previously granted awards under the 1993 Plan and the 2002 Plan remain outstanding.
	The Company has granted time-based options, performance-based options, time-based restricted stock unit awards, performance-based restricted stock unit awards and market-based restricted stock unit awards. The vesting of performance-based options and restricted stock unit awards are contingent upon meeting certain diluted earnings per share growth targets primarily in three independent tranches over a three year period. The vesting of each tranche is not dependent on the other tranches. Options generally expire ten years from the grant date. Time-based options and restricted stock unit awards generally vest over a three year period. Market-based restricted stock unit awards may be earned based upon the Company's total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder return of the S&P 500 Index over a three year period.
	Shares issued as a result of stock option exercises and the distribution of vested restricted stock units are new shares.
	The Company also has stock options that were issued as replacement options in connection with the acquisition of Indigo Systems Corporation in 2004 and stock options and restricted stock unit awards issued as replacement awards in connection with the acquisition of ICx in 2010.
	Information with respect to stock option activity for 2013 is as follows:
		Shares		Weighted		Weighted	Aggregate
		(in thousands)		Average		Average	Intrinsic
				Exercise		Remaining	Value
				Price		Contractual	(in thousands)
						Term
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	6,642		$	21.64	4.7
	Granted	1,029		24.58
	Exercised	(325	)	14.22
	Forfeited	(8	)	21.4
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	7,338		$	22.38	4.6	$	61,036
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013	5,973		$	21.82	3.6	$	53,284
	Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013	7,270		$	22.36	4.6	$	60,649
	Note 15.	Stock-based Compensation - (Continued)
	Information with respect to restricted stock unit activity for 2013 is as follows:
		Shares		Weighted
		(in thousands)		Average Grant
				Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	2,372		$	24.59
	Granted	1,180		23.93
	Vested and distributed	(566	)	26.71
	Forfeited	(198	)	24.03
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	2,788		$	21.16
	As of December 31, 2013, there are 12,080,000 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2011 Plan.
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan
	The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) which allows employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at 85 percent of the fair market value at the lower of either the date of enrollment or the purchase date. The Company has reserved 5,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the ESPP.
	There were 223,000 shares issued during 2013 and 3,630,000 shares remain available under the ESPP at December 31, 2013 for future issuance. Shares issued for ESPP purchases are new shares.

Other_Employee_Benefit_Plans

Other Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Other Employee Benefit Plan	'
	Other Employee Benefit Plans
	Employee 401(k) Plans
	The Company has a 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) to provide for voluntary salary deferral contributions on a pre-tax basis for employees within the United States in accordance with Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Plan allows for contributions by the Company. The Company made and expensed matching contributions of $4.9 million, $5.8 million and $7.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Pension Plans
	The Company previously offered most of the employees outside the United States participation in a defined benefit pension plan that has been curtailed. In addition, the Company provides a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) for certain officers of the Company based in the United States.
	The Company has recorded the minimum pension liability to accumulated other comprehensive earnings and the estimated benefit to be paid in 2014 has been reported in other current liabilities. The measurement date used for the pension plans is December 31.
	Amounts recognized in other comprehensive earnings during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, net of tax, are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012			2011
	Net earnings (loss)	$	2,665			$	448		$	(1,410	)
	Prior service cost	296				297			297
		$	2,961			$	745		$	(1,113	)
	Note 16.	Other Employee Benefit Plans - (Continued)
	Components of accumulated other comprehensive earnings related to the Company’s pension plans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013				2012
	Net loss	$	(1,836	)		$	(4,501	)
	Prior service cost	(330		)		(626		)
		$	(2,166	)		$	(5,127	)
	A summary of the components of the net periodic pension expense for the benefit obligation and fund assets of the plans is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at January 1	$	24,932			$	23,979
	Service costs	254				267
	Interest costs	883				936
	Actuarial (gain) loss	(296		)		(158		)
	Benefits paid	(13,292		)		(417		)
	Foreign currency exchange changes	70				325
	Benefit obligation at December 31	$	12,551			$	24,932
	Fair value of plan assets at December 31	$	—			$	—
	Unfunded status at December 31	$	12,551			$	24,932
	Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	Current liabilities	$	383			$	409
	Non-current liabilities	$	12,168			$	24,523
	The weighted average assumptions used are as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Net periodic benefit cost:
	SERP:
	Discount rate	3.75	%		4	%
	Rate of increase in compensation levels	3	%		5	%
	Defined benefit pension plan for employees outside the United States:
	Discount rate	3.5	%		2.75	%
	Funded status and projected benefit obligation:
	SERP:
	Discount rate	4.75	%		3.75	%
	Rate of increase in compensation levels	3	%		3	%
	Defined benefit pension plan for employees outside the United States:
	Discount rate	3.5	%		2.75	%
	The discount rates used are based upon publicly listed indices for instruments with average maturities estimated to be consistent with the respective obligations.
	A pension liability of $3.4 million and $8.1 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, have been recognized for the pension plans representing the excess of the unfunded accumulated benefit obligation over the accrued pension costs.
	Note 16.	Other Employee Benefit Plans - (Continued)
	Benefits expected to be paid under the plans are approximately (in thousands):
	2014	$	382
	2015	397
	2016	393
	2017	391
	2018	376
	Five years thereafter	13,881
		$	15,820
	Components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
	2013				2012			2011
Service costs	$	254			$	267		$	205
Interest costs	883				936			1,047
Net amortization and deferral	1,111				1,205			903
Settlement loss	3,305				—			—
Net periodic pension costs	$	5,553			$	2,408		$	2,155
Components of net periodic benefit cost expected to be recognized from amounts in accumulated other comprehensive earnings during the year ending December 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
	Year Ending December 31, 2014
Net loss	$	107
Net prior service cost	160
	$	267

Operating_Segments_and_Related

Operating Segments and Related Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Operating Segments and Related Information	'
	Operating Segments and Related Information
	Operating Segments
	The Company has two business divisions: Commercial Systems and Government Systems.
	Commercial Systems Division
	The Commercial Systems division is focused on the design, manufacture, and marketing of instrument, sensor, and electronics solutions that facilitate improved situational awareness and environmental analytics for commercial customers. The division is comprised of two operating segments: Thermal Vision and Measurement and Raymarine. The Thermal Vision and Measurement segment provides advanced thermal imaging solutions where the customer need is to see at night or in adverse conditions or to image a scene gathering valuable temperature information. The Raymarine segment provides electronics for the maritime market and is a leading global provider of fully integrated “stem to stern” networked electronic systems for boats of all sizes.
	Government Systems Division
	The Government Systems division designs, manufactures, and markets advanced imaging and detection systems for government markets where high performance is required. The division is comprised of three operating segments: Surveillance, Detection, and Integrated Systems. The Surveillance segment provides enhanced imaging and recognition solutions to a wide variety of military, law enforcement, public safety, and other government customers around the world for the protection of borders, troops, and public welfare. The Detection segment produces sensor instruments that detect and identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (“CBRNE”) threats for military force protection, homeland security, and commercial applications. The Integrated Systems segment develops platform solutions for combating sophisticated security threats and incorporates multiple sensor systems in order to deliver actionable intelligence for wide area surveillance, intrusion detection, and facility security.
	Note 17.	Operating Segments and Related Information—(Continued)
	The accounting policies of each of the segments are the same. The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer evaluates the performance of each segment based upon its revenue and earnings from operations. On a consolidated basis, these amounts represent revenue and earnings from operations as represented in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Other consists of corporate expenses and certain other operating expenses not allocated to the operating segments for management reporting purposes. Intersegment revenues are recorded at an estimated arm's length basis and are eliminated in consolidation.
	Accounts receivable and inventories for operating segments are regularly reviewed by management and are reported below as segment assets. All remaining assets, liabilities, capital expenditures and depreciation are managed on a Company-wide basis.
	Operating segment information is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue—External Customers:
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	727,939		$	628,019		$	660,256
	Raymarine	163,200			158,183			171,489
	Surveillance	456,490			486,355			577,552
	Detection	53,191			63,312			79,918
	Integrated Systems	95,552			69,489			54,847
		$	1,496,372		$	1,405,358		$	1,544,062
	Revenue—Intersegments:
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	16,449		$	15,204		$	18,553
	Raymarine	5			7			7
	Surveillance	25,420			23,013			32,266
	Detection	7,763			4,233			3,394
	Integrated Systems	1,217			1,537			6,639
	Eliminations	(50,854		)	(43,994		)	(60,859		)
		$	—		$	—		$	—
	Earnings (loss) from operations:
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	161,307		$	171,280		$	194,674
	Raymarine	14,184			11,173			11,855
	Surveillance	126,034			160,219			208,510
	Detection	(184		)	1,089			(5,568		)
	Integrated Systems	(1,907		)	5,168			1,659
	Other	(58,691		)	(45,599		)	(97,935		)
		$	240,743		$	303,330		$	313,195
	Note 17.	Operating Segments and Related Information—(Continued)
		December 31,
		2013			2012
					(as adjusted)
	Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories):
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	261,204		$	265,132
	Raymarine	63,628			73,564
	Surveillance	262,759			317,944
	Detection	21,754			31,861
	Integrated Systems	21,947			25,742
		$	631,292		$	714,243
	Revenue and Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area
	Information related to revenue by significant geographical location, determined by the end customer, is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	United States	$	755,640		$	717,841		$	803,423
	Europe	370,800			337,163			382,388
	Other foreign	369,932			350,354			358,251
		$	1,496,372		$	1,405,358		$	1,544,062
	Long-lived assets are comprised of net property and equipment, net identifiable intangible assets, goodwill and other long-term assets. Long-lived assets by significant geographic locations are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012
					(as adjusted)
	United States	$	600,261		$	584,623
	Europe	359,444			353,800
	Other foreign	56,040			54,763
		$	1,015,745		$	993,186
Major Customers
Revenue derived from major customers is as follows (in thousands):
	Year Ended December 31,
	2013			2012			2011
United States government	$	354,902		$	373,540		$	444,882

Business_Acquisitions

Business Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisitions [Abstract]	'
Business Acquisition	'
	Business Acquisitions
	In December 2012, the Company acquired Lorex, a provider of consumer oriented and professional grade video surveillance systems, for approximately $61.2 million in cash. At December 31, 2012, the Company initially reported the net tangible assets of $19.1 million in the respective balance sheet accounts and the excess purchase price of $42.1 million in other assets.
	The Company has since performed a purchase price allocation which resulted in an allocation of $15.1 million of identifiable intangible assets and $31.1 million of goodwill in conjunction with the Lorex acquisition, which has been recorded in the Company’s Thermal Vision and Measurement segment. This goodwill consists largely of the ability of Lorex to provide the Company domain knowledge and distribution channels in adjacent security markets. These purchase price adjustments have been applied retrospectively to the December 31, 2012 balance sheet.
	The allocation of the purchase price is as follows (in thousands):
	Cash acquired	$	1,170
	Accounts receivable, net	10,183
	Inventories	13,967
	Property and equipment	1,049
	Other assets	3,004
	Liabilities	(10,252		)
	Net tangible assets	19,121
	Net deferred taxes	(4,171		)
	Identifiable intangible assets	15,100
	Goodwill	31,121
	Purchase price	$	61,171
	None of the goodwill recognized is deductible for income tax purposes.
	The identifiable intangible assets and the estimated useful life of each are as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated		Amount
		Useful Life
	Lorex Trade Name	indefinite		$	6,800
	Customer Relationships	7 years		8,300
				$	15,100
	Also in December 2012, the Company acquired Traficon, a provider of video image processing software and hardware for traffic analysis applications, for approximately $46.3 million in cash. At December 31, 2012, the Company initially reported the net tangible assets of $5.1 million in the respective balance sheet accounts and the excess purchase price of $41.2 million in other assets.
	In April 2013, the Company made an additional payment of $2.1 million in cash as an adjustment to the purchase price for the purchase of Traficon. The Company has performed a purchase price allocation which resulted in an allocation of $20.1 million of identifiable intangible assets and $30.1 million of goodwill in conjunction with the Traficon acquisition, which has been recorded in the Company’s Thermal Vision and Measurement segment. This goodwill consists largely of the ability of Traficon to expand the Company's presence in the global traffic monitoring market through the provision of domain expertise and distribution channels. These purchase price adjustments have been applied retrospectively to the December 31, 2012 balance sheet.
	Note 18.	Business Acquisitions - (Continued)
	The allocation of the purchase price is as follows (in thousands):
	Cash acquired	$	181
	Accounts receivable, net	6,435
	Inventories	2,853
	Property and equipment	179
	Other assets	657
	Liabilities	(5,248		)
	Net tangible assets	5,057
	Net deferred taxes	(6,903		)
	Identifiable intangible assets	20,102
	Goodwill	30,107
	Purchase price	$	48,363
	None of the goodwill recognized is deductible for income tax purposes.
	The identifiable intangible assets and the estimated useful life of each are as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated		Amount
		Useful Life
	Patented/Proprietary Technology	10 years		$	5,951
	Backlog	1.5 years		1,852
	Customer Relationships	10 years		12,299
				$	20,102
	In April 2013, the Company acquired MARSS, a developer of software and sensor control systems for use in maritime security applications, including above and below water port security and ship-based man overboard detection, for approximately $3.2 million in cash. The Company has recorded $0.4 million of identifiable intangible assets and $2.5 million of goodwill in the Company's Integrated Systems segment.
	In August 2013, the Company acquired certain tangible assets and intellectual property related to the design and manufacturing of wafer-level optics of DOC Charlotte for approximately $14.9 million in cash. The Company has performed a purchase price allocation which resulted in an allocation of $2.5 million of identifiable intangible assets and $2.4 million of goodwill which has been recorded in the Company’s Thermal Vision and Measurement segment.
	Note 18.	Business Acquisitions - (Continued)
	The allocation of the purchase price for DOC Charlotte is as follows (in thousands):
	Inventories	$	741
	Property and equipment	9,246
	Net tangible assets	9,987
	Identifiable intangible assets	2,520
	Goodwill	2,401
	Purchase price	$	14,908
	None of the goodwill recognized is deductible for income tax purposes.
	The identifiable intangible assets and the estimated useful life of each are as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated		Amount
		Useful Life
	Patented/Proprietary Technology	12 years		$	2,000
	Backlog	2 years		150
	Customer Relationships	2.5 years		370
				$	2,520
The operating results of MARSS and DOC Charlotte are included in the Company’s results of operations since their respective dates of acquisition. The operating results of each of Lorex and Traficon are not included in the Company's 2012 results of operations, as such results were not significant.
These acquisitions are not significant, either individually or in the aggregate, as defined in Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, compared to the Company’s overall financial position.

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operations	'
	Discontinued Operations
	In 2010, in connection with the acquisition of ICx Technologies, Inc. ("ICx"), the Company began to pursue the sale of certain business units of ICx and the results of operations for such business units were reported as discontinued operations for that year. During the second quarter of 2012, the Company sold the remaining two business units reported as discontinued operations. The operating losses of those operations, including insignificant associated losses recognized subsequent to their disposal, and the net losses on the sales of the units, net of tax are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Shareholders_Equity

Shareholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'
Shareholders' Equity	'
	Shareholders’ Equity
	In February 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 20.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. This authorization expired in February 2013. In February 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 25.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. This authorization will expire on February 6, 2015.
	Under these authorizations, the Company has repurchased 5,988,000 shares for a total of $162.1 million, 10,466,000 shares for a total of $214.2 million and 6,135,000 shares for a total of $160.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, there were 19,012,000 shares remaining under the February 2013 authorization that may be repurchased.
	On February 9, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a dividend policy under which the Company intends to pay quarterly cash dividends on its common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company paid dividends quarterly at the rate of $0.09 per share for a total of $51.4 million. During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company paid dividends quarterly at the rate of $0.07 per share for a total of $42.5 million. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company paid dividends quarterly at the rate of $0.06 per share for a total of $38.0 million.

Restructuring_Costs_Restructur

Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Restructuring Costs
	During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded net pre-tax restructuring expenses totaling $27.5 million and $2.0 million, respectively. In 2013, the Company initiated a realignment plan that includes closing six not-to-scale sites in the United States and Europe and a transfer of those operations to the Company's larger facilities. The Company is also consolidating its optics and laser manufacturing businesses to better realize the benefits of vertical integration in these areas. In 2012, the Company recorded restructuring expenses associated with the relocation of one of the Company's manufacturing facilities in Europe to an existing facility in the United States.
	The Company recorded the restructuring expenses in the segments as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	17,370		$	—
	Raymarine	361			—
	Surveillance	3,598			—
	Detection	4,222			2,000
	Integrated Systems	1,761			—
	Other	209			—
		$	27,521		$	2,000
	Restructuring expenses were recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Cost of goods sold	$	1,689		$	—
	Restructuring expenses	25,832			2,000
		$	27,521		$	2,000
	The following table summarizes the activity by cost type (in thousands):
		Severance			Inventory			Facilities Exit, Lease Terminations & Other			Total
					write downs
	2013 restructuring expenses	$	19,866		$	1,689		$	5,966		$	27,521
	Utilization	(1,675		)	(1,689		)	(2,296		)	(5,660		)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	18,191		$	—		$	3,670		$	21,861
	At December 31, 2012, the Company had restructuring accruals of $0.6 million related to 2012 activities that were utilized during the year ended December 31, 2013.

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events	'
	Subsequent Events
	On February 7, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share on its common stock, payable on March 7, 2014, to shareholders of record as of close of business on February 19, 2014. The total cash payment of this dividend will be approximately $14.1 million.

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Unaud

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	'
	QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
	FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
	(In thousands, except per share data)
		Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4
	2013
	Revenue	$	348,583		$	389,329		$	358,141		$	400,319
	Gross profit	183,987			190,041			172,890			190,092
	Net earnings	51,636			50,158			46,486			28,735
	Earnings per share:
	Basic earnings per share	$	0.36		$	0.35		$	0.33		$	0.2
	Diluted earnings per share	$	0.35		$	0.35		$	0.32		$	0.2
	2012 (as adjusted)
	Revenue	$	348,452		$	338,291		$	332,230		$	386,385
	Gross profit(1)	182,727			173,417			173,665			205,375
	Earnings from continuing operations	48,825			42,405			55,949			78,177
	Loss from discontinued operations	(686		)	(1,312		)	(44		)	(916		)
	Net earnings	48,139			41,093			55,905			77,261
	Basic earnings per share:
	Continuing operations	$	0.32		$	0.28		$	0.37		$	0.53
	Discontinued operations	(0.00		)	(0.01		)	(0.00		)	(0.01		)
	Basic earnings per share	$	0.31		$	0.27		$	0.37		$	0.52
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Continuing operations	$	0.31		$	0.27		$	0.37		$	0.52
	Discontinued operations	(0.00		)	(0.01		)	(0.00		)	(0.01		)
	Diluted earnings per share	$	0.31		$	0.27		$	0.37		$	0.52
	_______________
	(1) Certain expenses have been reclassified to conform to the presentation for the quarterly data of 2013.
	The sum of the quarterly earnings per share does not always equal the annual earnings per share as a result of the computation of quarterly versus annual average shares outstanding.

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi1

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Principals of consolidation	'
	Principles of consolidation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions were eliminated.
Reclassification	'
	Reclassification
	The Company made certain reclassifications to the prior years' financial statements to conform them to the presentation as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013. The reclassifications included certain severance expenses of $3.8 million and $0.7 million recognized during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, that were originally reported in cost of goods sold and are now reported as operating expenses, and certain demonstration assets of $2.3 million that were originally reported as inventory at December 31, 2012 that are now reported in other current assets. In addition, the December 31, 2012 balance sheet has been adjusted for the purchase price accounting that was completed during 2013 associated with the acquisitions of Lorex Technology Inc. ("Lorex") and Traficon International NV ("Traficon"). See Note 7, "Goodwill," Note 8, "Intangible Assets," Note 14, "Income Taxes," and Note 18, "Business Acquisitions" for additional information. These reclassifications had no effect on consolidated financial position, shareholders' equity or net cash flows for any of the periods presented.
Foreign currency translation	'
	Foreign currency translation
	The assets and liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries outside the United States are translated into United States dollars at current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive earnings within shareholders’ equity. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are reflected as other income, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Income as incurred.
	The cumulative translation adjustment included in accumulated other comprehensive earnings is a gain of $26.5 million and a gain of $14.7 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Transaction gains and losses included in other income, net, are a net loss of $0.3 million, a net loss of $3.0 million, and a net gain of $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Revenue recognition	'
	Revenue recognition
	Revenue is primarily recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, upon delivery of the product to the customer at a fixed or determinable price with a reasonable assurance of collection, passage of title and risk of loss to the customer as indicated by the shipping terms and fulfillment of all significant obligations.
	The Company designs, markets and sells products primarily as commercial, off-the-shelf products. Certain customers request different system configurations, based on standard options or accessories that the Company offers. In general, revenue arrangements do not involve acceptance provisions based upon customer specified acceptance criteria. In those limited circumstances when customer specified acceptance criteria exist, revenue is deferred until customer acceptance if the Company cannot demonstrate the system meets those specifications prior to shipment. For any contracts with multiple elements (i.e., training, installation, additional parts, etc.) the Company allocates revenue among the deliverables primarily based upon objective and reliable evidence of fair value of each element in the arrangement. If objective and reliable evidence of fair value of any element is not available, we use an estimated selling price for purposes of allocating the total arrangement consideration among the elements. Credit is not extended to customers and revenue is not recognized until the Company has determined that the risk of uncollectability is minimal.
	The Company’s products are sold with warranty provisions that require it to remedy deficiencies in quality or performance of the Company’s products over a specified period of time, generally twelve to twenty-four months, at no cost to its customers. Warranty liabilities are established at the time that revenue is recognized at levels that represent the Company’s estimate of the costs that will be incurred to fulfill those warranty requirements.
	Provisions for estimated losses on sales or related receivables are recorded when identified. Revenue includes certain shipping and handling costs and is stated net of representative commissions and sales taxes. Service revenue is deferred and recognized over the contract period, as is the case for extended warranty contracts, or recognized as services are provided.
Cost of goods sold	'
	Cost of goods sold
	Cost of goods sold includes materials, labor and overhead costs incurred in the manufacturing of products and services sold in the period as well as warranty costs. Material costs include raw materials, purchased components and sub-assemblies, outside processing and inbound freight costs. Labor and overhead costs consist of direct and indirect manufacturing costs, including wages and fringe benefits, operating supplies, depreciation, occupancy costs, and purchasing, receiving and inspection costs.
Research and development	'
	Research and development
	Expenditures for research and development activities are expensed as incurred.
Cash equivalents	'
	Cash equivalents
	The Company considers short-term investments that are highly liquid, readily convertible into cash and have maturities of less than three months when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents at December 31, 2013 and 2012 were $28.5 million and $5.9 million, respectively, which were primarily investments in money market funds.
Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts	'
	Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts
	Accounts receivable are stated at the amounts the Company expects to collect. Credit limits are established through a process of reviewing the financial history and stability of each customer. The Company regularly evaluates the collectability of its trade receivables balances based on a combination of factors. If it is determined that a customer will be unable to fully meet its financial obligation, the Company records a specific allowance to reduce the related receivable to the amount expected to be recovered. In addition, the Company also records an allowance for all other customers based on certain other factors including the length of time the receivables are past due and historical collection experience with individual customers.
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories are generally stated at the lower of cost or market and include materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead. Cost is determined based on a currently adjusted standard cost basis that approximates actual manufacturing cost on a first-in, first-out basis.
	Inventory write-downs are recorded when conditions exist to indicate that inventories are likely to be in excess of anticipated demand or are obsolete based upon the Company’s assumptions about future demand for its products and market conditions. The Company regularly evaluates its ability to realize the value of inventories based on a combination of factors including the following: historical usage rates, forecasted sales or usage, product end of life dates, estimated current and future market values and new product introductions. When recorded, write-downs reduce the carrying value of the Company’s inventories to their net realizable value and create a new cost-basis in the inventories. Write-downs are reflected in cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Demonstration Units	'
	Demonstration units
	The Company’s products which are being used as demonstration units are stated at the lower of cost or market and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Demonstration units are available for sale and the Company periodically evaluates them as to marketability and realizable values. The carrying value of demonstration units was $42.7 million and $35.8 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Property and equipment	'
	Property and equipment
	Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated using a straight-line methodology over their estimated useful lives. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	Goodwill is reviewed during the third quarter of each year, or more frequently if warranted, for impairment to determine if events or changes in business conditions indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. See Note 7, "Goodwill," for additional information.
Intangible assets	'
	Intangible assets
	Intangible assets are amortized using a straight-line methodology over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are evaluated annually for impairment, or more frequently if required. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges on intangible assets with indefinite lives during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
Impairment of long-lived assets	'
	Impairment of long-lived assets
	Long-lived asset groups are reviewed for impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment exists when the carrying value is greater than the expected undiscounted future cash flows expected to be provided by the asset group. If impairment exists, the asset group is written down to its fair value. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges on long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.
Advertising costs	'
	Advertising costs
	Advertising costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $10.7 million, $8.5 million and $11.1 million, respectively.
Cost-basis investments	'
	Cost-basis investments
	The Company has private company investments, which consist of investments for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, and are accounted for under the cost method. The investments are carried at cost and adjusted only when the Company believes that events have occurred that are likely to have a significant other-than-temporary adverse effect on the estimated fair value of the investments. If no such events have occurred, the fair value of the investments is not calculated as it is not practicable to do so. The carrying value of those investments was $13.5 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012. The investments are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Contingencies	'
	Contingencies
	The Company is subject to the possibility of loss contingencies arising in the normal course of business. An estimated loss is accrued when the Company determines that it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company regularly evaluates current available information to determine whether such accruals should be adjusted.
Earnings per share	'
	Earnings per share
	Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed similar to basic earnings per share except that the weighted shares outstanding are increased to include additional shares from the assumed exercise of stock options, if dilutive, assumed issuance of unvested restricted stock awards and from the assumed conversion of the convertible notes.
	The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerator and denominator utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012			2011
	Numerator for earnings per share:
	Earnings from continuing operations	$	177,015	$	225,356		$	222,652
	Loss from discontinued operations	—		(2,958		)	(1,178		)
	Net earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share	$	177,015	$	222,398		$	221,474
	Denominator for earnings per share:
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	142,446		151,634			158,323
	Assumed exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, net of shares assumed reacquired under the treasury stock method	2,149		1,960			2,528
	Diluted shares outstanding	144,595		153,594			160,851
	The effect of stock-based compensation awards for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 that aggregated 549,000, 1,198,000 and 352,000 shares have been excluded for purposes of diluted earnings per share since the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
Stock-based compensation	'
	The Company elected to adopt the “long-haul” method to calculate the historical pool of windfall tax benefits, which calculates on a grant by grant basis, the windfall or excess tax benefit that arose upon the exercise of each stock option, based on a comparison to the total tax deduction to the “as-if” deferred tax asset that would have been recorded had the Company followed the recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 718, “Compensation-Stock Compensation,” since its effective date of January 1, 2006. Additionally, the Company elected to adopt the “tax-law ordering” method of measuring the timing in which tax deductions on stock option exercises should be recognized in the consolidated financial statements.
Concentration of risk	'
	Concentration of risk
	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited because a relatively large number of geographically diverse customers make up the Company’s customer base, thus diversifying the trade credit risk. The Company controls credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. The Company performs credit evaluations for all new customers and requires letters of credit, bank guarantees and advanced payments, if deemed necessary.
	A substantial portion of the Company’s revenue is derived from sales to United States and foreign government agencies (see Note 17, "Operating Segments and Related Information"). The Company also purchases certain key components from sole or limited source suppliers.
	The Company maintains cash deposits with major banks that from time to time may exceed federally insured limits. The Company periodically assesses the financial condition of the institutions and instruments in which it invests, and adjusts its investment balances to mitigate the risk of principal loss.
Use of estimates	'
	Use of estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and judgments made by management of the Company include matters such as collectability of accounts receivable, realizability of inventories, recoverability of deferred tax assets, impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets, loss contingencies and adequacy of warranty accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company believes that the estimates used are reasonable.
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	'
	Accumulated other comprehensive earnings
	Accumulated other comprehensive earnings includes cumulative translation adjustments, fair value adjustments on cash flow hedges and changes in minimum liability for pension plans. Foreign currency translation adjustments included in comprehensive income were not tax affected as investments in international affiliates are deemed to be indefinite in duration.
Product warranties	'
	The Company generally provides a twelve to twenty-four month warranty on its products. A provision for the estimated future costs of warranty, based upon historical cost and product performance experience, is recorded when revenue is recognized.
Segment reporting	'
	The accounting policies of each of the segments are the same. The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer evaluates the performance of each segment based upon its revenue and earnings from operations. On a consolidated basis, these amounts represent revenue and earnings from operations as represented in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Other consists of corporate expenses and certain other operating expenses not allocated to the operating segments for management reporting purposes. Intersegment revenues are recorded at an estimated arm's length basis and are eliminated in consolidation.
	Accounts receivable and inventories for operating segments are regularly reviewed by management and are reported below as segment assets. All remaining assets, liabilities, capital expenditures and depreciation are managed on a Company-wide basis.

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi2

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of the numerator and denominator utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share	'
	The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerator and denominator utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Numerator for earnings per share:
	Earnings from continuing operations	$	177,015			$	225,356			$	222,652
	Loss from discontinued operations	—				(2,958		)		(1,178		)
	Net earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share	$	177,015			$	222,398			$	221,474
	Denominator for earnings per share:
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	142,446				151,634				158,323
	Assumed exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, net of shares assumed reacquired under the treasury stock method	2,149				1,960				2,528
	Diluted shares outstanding	144,595				153,594				160,851
Supplemental cash flow disclosure	'
	Supplemental cash flow disclosure (in thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Cash paid for:
	Interest	$	12,922			$	10,239			$	1,119
	Taxes	$	88,277			$	74,333			$	106,215
Stock-based compensation expense and related tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income and capitalized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets	'
	The following table sets forth the stock-based compensation expense and related tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Cost of goods sold	$	2,591			$	3,197			$	3,306
	Research and development	4,938				5,001				5,195
	Selling, general and administrative	20,294				18,052				16,416
	Stock-based compensation expense before income taxes	27,823				26,250				24,917
	Income tax benefit	(8,598		)		(7,737		)		(6,976		)
	Total stock-based compensation expense after income taxes	$	19,225			$	18,513			$	17,941
	Stock-based compensation expense capitalized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Capitalized in inventory	$	734			$	470			$	819
Fair value of the stock-based awards granted weighted-average assumptions	'
	The fair value of the stock-based awards granted in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was estimated with the following weighted-average assumptions:
		2013			2012			2011
	Stock option awards:
	Risk-free interest rate	0.3	%		0.4	%		1	%
	Expected dividend yield	1.5	%		1.3	%		0.7	%
	Expected term	4.3 years			4.2 years			4.3 years
	Expected volatility	33.7	%		39.7	%		42.3	%
	Market-based restricted stock awards:
	Risk-free interest rate	0.3	%		0.4	%		N/A
	Expected dividend yield	0	%		0	%		N/A
	Expected term	2.2 years			3.0 years			N/A
	Expected volatility	28.8	%		30.7	%		N/A
	Expected volatility of S&P 500	18.1	%		19.6	%		N/A
	Employee stock purchase plan:
	Risk-free interest rate	0.1	%		0.2	%		0.1	%
	Expected dividend yield	1.4	%		1.3	%		0.8	%
	Expected term	6 months			6 months			6 months
	Expected volatility	28.1	%		25.2	%		33.1	%
Weighted-average fair value of stock-based compensation awards granted and vested, and the intrinsic value of options exercised	'
	The weighted-average fair value of stock-based compensation awards granted and vested, and the intrinsic value of options exercised during the period were (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Years Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Stock option awards:
	Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$	5.92			$	6.43			$	11.61
	Total fair value of awards granted	$	6,095			$	4,104			$	4,613
	Total fair value of awards vested	$	5,059			$	6,023			$	8,492
	Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$	4,642			$	5,928			$	21,234
	Restricted stock unit awards:
	Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$	23.94			$	17.23			$	34.35
	Total fair value of awards granted	$	28,239			$	30,660			$	21,822
	Total fair value of awards vested	$	13,846			$	12,710			$	19,865
	Employee stock purchase plan:
	Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$	5.94			$	4.66			$	6.99
	Total fair value of shares estimated to be issued	$	1,169			$	1,694			$	2,359
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	The following table sets forth the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31. 2013:
			Pension Plans				Cash Flow				Foreign		Total
			Items				Hedge Items				Currency
											Items
	Balance, December 31, 2012		$	(5,127	)		$	—			$	14,668	$	9,541
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		184				1,105				11,838		13,127
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of tax		2,777				555				—		3,332
	Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax		2,961				1,660				11,838		16,459
	Balance, December 31, 2013		$	(2,166	)		$	1,660			$	26,506	$	26,000
	Components of accumulated other comprehensive earnings related to the Company’s pension plans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013				2012
	Net loss	$	(1,836	)		$	(4,501	)
	Prior service cost	(330		)		(626		)
		$	(2,166	)		$	(5,127	)

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen1

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Foreign Currency [Abstract]	'
Notional amounts of outstanding foreign currency forward contracts by currency	'
	As of December 31, 2013, the following interest rate swaps were outstanding:
	Contract Date		Notional Amount			Fixed Rate		Effective Date		Maturity Date
			(in millions)
	15-Mar-13		$	69.4		1.0165	%	5-Apr-13		31-Mar-19
	29-Mar-13		$	69.4		0.97	%	5-Apr-13		31-Mar-19
	The table below presents the net notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding foreign currency forward contracts by currency at December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Swedish kronor	$	99,214		$	98,385
	Euro	265			2,232
	British pound sterling	5,641			15,619
	Australian dollar	5,986			7,022
	Japanese yen	4,462			5,157
	Other	6,362			622
		$	121,930		$	129,037
	The carrying amount of our derivative instruments included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31, 2013						December 31, 2012
		Other Current Assets			Other Current Liabilities			Other Current Assets			Other Current Liabilities
	Foreign exchange contracts	$	392		$	613		$	2,106		$	229

Accounts_Receivable_Accounts_R

Accounts Receivable Accounts Receivable (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Allowance, and Net [Abstract]	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts and the activity	'
	The following table summarizes the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts and the activity for 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Allowance for doubtful accounts, beginning of year	$	6,574		$	5,556		$	5,104
	Charges to costs and expenses	1,571			2,383			1,699
	Write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries	(505		)	(1,055		)	(973		)
	Business acquisitions and disposals	—			(351		)	(148		)
	Currency translation adjustments	34			41			(126		)
	Allowance for doubtful accounts, end of year	$	7,674		$	6,574		$	5,556

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013		2012
				(as adjusted)
	Raw material and subassemblies	$	204,542	$	231,273
	Work-in-progress	45,060		50,644
	Finished goods	95,117		97,163
		$	344,719	$	379,080

Property_and_Equipment_Propert

Property and Equipment Property and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property and equipment	'
	Property and equipment are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated	December 31,
		Useful Life	2013			2012
	Land	—	$	25,254		$	23,194
	Buildings	30 years	115,206			109,587
	Machinery and equipment	3 to 7 years	237,179			186,303
	Office equipment and other	3 to 10 years	91,666			83,001
			469,305			402,085
	Less accumulated depreciation		(235,264		)	(190,470		)
			$	234,041		$	211,615
	Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $35.9 million, $35.3 million and $43.8 million, respectively.

Goodwill_Tables

Goodwill (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure - Goodwill - Additional Information [Abstract]	'
Carrying value of goodwill by reporting segment and the activity	'
	The carrying value of goodwill by reporting segment and the activity for the two year period ending December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):
		Thermal Vision and Measurement		Raymarine		Surveillance		Detection		Integrated Systems		Total
	Balance, December 31, 2011	$	251,187	$	98,364	$	90,501	$	38,162	$	20,129	$	498,343
	Currency translation adjustments	2,039		2,380		316		—		—		4,735
	Balance, December 31, 2012	253,226		100,744		90,817		38,162		20,129		503,078
	(as originally reported)
	Retrospective adjustments	61,228		—		—		—		—		61,228
	Balance, December 31, 2012	314,454		100,744		90,817		38,162		20,129		564,306
	(as adjusted)
	Goodwill from acquisitions	2,401		—		—		—		2,463		4,864
	Currency translation adjustments	4,669		1,684		77		—		101		6,531
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	321,524	$	102,428	$	90,894	$	38,162	$	22,693	$	575,701

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_A

Intangible Assets Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'
Intangible assets	'
	Intangible assets are summarized as follows (in thousands):
		Weighted		December 31,
		Average
		Estimated
		Useful Life		2013			2012
							(as adjusted)
	Product technology	11 years		$	69,919		$	94,975
	Customer relationships	11 years		83,899			84,681
	Trademarks and tradename portfolios	15 years		7,160			7,160
	Tradename portfolio not subject to amortization	Indefinite		39,166			38,875
	Other	5 years		21,996			24,319
	Acquired identifiable intangibles			222,140			250,010
	Less accumulated amortization			(70,517		)	(78,328		)
	Net acquired identifiable intangibles			151,623			171,682
	Patents	17 years		4,471			4,464
	Less accumulated amortization			(3,989		)	(3,960		)
	Net patents			482			504
	Acquired in-place leases and other	6 years		9,333			9,150
	Less accumulated amortization			(7,243		)	(5,513		)
	Net acquired in-place leases and other			2,090			3,637
				$	154,195		$	175,823
Estimated future aggregate amortization expense	'
	For intangible assets recorded at December 31, 2013, the estimated future aggregate amortization expense for the years ending December 31, 2014 through 2018 is approximately (in thousands):
	2014	$	21,450
	2015	16,510
	2016	12,025
	2017	11,544
	2018	9,391

Accrued_Product_Warranties_Tab

Accrued Product Warranties (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Summary of Warranty Liability and Activity	'
	The following table summarizes the Company’s warranty liability and activity for 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Accrued product warranties, beginning of year	$	16,152		$	16,046		$	18,686
	Amounts paid for warranty services	(10,372		)	(12,317		)	(11,849		)
	Warranty provisions for products sold	10,917			10,477			9,519
	Business acquisitions and disposals	—			839			(20		)
	Currency translation adjustments and other	1,035			1,107			(290		)
	Accrued product warranties, end of year	$	17,732		$	16,152		$	16,046
	Current accrued product warranties, end of year	$	14,665		$	13,169		$	13,370
	Long-term accrued product warranties, end of year	$	3,067		$	2,983		$	2,676

LongTerm_Debt_LongTerm_Debt_Ta

Long-Term Debt Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-term debt	'
	Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Unsecured notes	$	250,000		$	250,000
	Term loan	138,750			—
	Unamortized discounts and issuance costs of unsecured notes	(1,222		)	(1,681		)
		$	387,528		$	248,319
	Current portion, long-term debt	$	15,000		$	—
	Long-term debt	$	372,528		$	248,319

Commitments_Tables

Commitments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments [Abstract]	'
Future minimum obligations under all non-cancelable leases, net of expected sublease income, and other contractual obligations	'
	The future minimum obligations under all non-cancelable leases, net of expected sublease income, and other contractual obligations are as follows (in thousands):
		Net		Other
		Operating		Contractual
		Leases		Obligations
	2014	$	11,680	$	1,020
	2015	7,557		1,008
	2016	2,435		550
	2017	1,488		550
	2018	1,428		550
	Thereafter	1,718		—
	Total minimum payments	$	26,306	$	3,678

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pre-tax earnings by significant geographical locations	'
	Pre-tax earnings by significant geographical locations from continuing operations are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	United States	$	118,269			$	180,022			$	192,219
	Foreign	110,717				111,890				118,860
		$	228,986			$	291,912			$	311,079
Provisions for income taxes	'
	The provisions for income taxes from continuing operations are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Current tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	$	38,249			$	53,187			$	62,858
	State	4,413				(3,075		)		9,262
	Foreign	13,483				21,138				24,452
		56,145				71,250				96,572
	Deferred tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	(252		)		3,194				(5,185		)
	State	(335		)		1,887				(993		)
	Foreign	(3,587		)		(9,775		)		(1,967		)
		(4,174		)		(4,694		)		(8,145		)
	Total provision	$	51,971			$	66,556			$	88,427
Deferred tax assets (liabilities)	'
	Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are composed of the following components (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013				2012
						(as adjusted)
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,295			$	1,123
	Accrued product warranties	3,069				3,099
	Inventory basis differences	11,421				9,225
	Accrued liabilities	8,987				7,206
	Deferred revenue	1,775				2,205
	Current net operating loss	7,449				8,085
	Other	(1,024		)		(1,025		)
	Foreign accrued liabilities	4,504				—
	Foreign other	913				1,042
	Net current deferred tax assets	$	38,389			$	30,960
	Net operating loss carry-forwards	$	6,143			$	11,588
	Credit carry-forwards	6,391				7,034
	Domestic depreciation	(5,455		)		(7,222		)
	Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan	3,198				7,491
	Stock-based compensation	17,239				13,745
	Intangibles	(14,450		)		(15,999		)
	Accrued Liabilities	7,624				6,033
	Domestic other	1,416				4,018
	Foreign credit carry-forwards	—				3,590
	Foreign intangibles	—				(1,259		)
	Foreign net operating loss carry-forwards	760				8,119
	Foreign other	16				(78		)
	Valuation allowance	(4,999		)		(4,837		)
	Net long-term deferred tax assets	$	17,883			$	32,223
	Foreign credit carry-forwards	$	2,922			$	—
	Foreign depreciation	2,418				3,196
	Foreign intangibles	(18,528		)		(23,597		)
	Foreign net operating loss carry-forwards	8,930				5,336
	Foreign other	461				504
	Valuation allowance	(8,457		)		(4,510		)
	Net long-term deferred tax liabilities	$	(12,254	)		$	(19,071	)
Effective income tax rate reconciliation	'
	The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of tax determined by applying the applicable United States statutory federal income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following differences:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Statutory federal tax rate	35	%		35	%		35	%
	Increase (decrease) in rates resulting from:
	Foreign rate differential	(11.6	)		(10.4	)		(3.8	)
	Foreign, federal and state income tax credits	(2.2	)		(2.7	)		(2.9	)
	State taxes	1			0.3			2.2
	Non-deductible expenses	0.5			0.7			(1.2	)
	Other	—			(0.1	)		(0.9	)
	Effective tax rate	22.7	%		22.8	%		28.4	%
Activity related to unrecognized tax benefits, including amounts accrued for potential interest and penalties	'
	The following table summarizes the activity related to unrecognized tax benefits, including amounts accrued for potential interest and penalties (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
	Balance, beginning of year	$	35,143			$	29,200			$	30,949
	Increases related to current year tax positions	979				7,220				1,225
	Increases related to prior year tax positions	714				1,559				4,192
	Decreases related to prior year tax positions	(2,736		)		(343		)		(4,608		)
	Lapse of statute of limitations	(2,012		)		(1,887		)		(2,558		)
	Settlements	(2,555		)		(606		)		—
	Balance, end of year	$	29,533			$	35,143			$	29,200
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'
	The Company currently has the following tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions:
		Tax Years:
	United States Federal	2012
	State of California	2008 – 2012
	State of Massachusetts	2011 – 2012
	State of Oregon	2012
	Sweden	2008 – 2012
	United Kingdom	2007 – 2012
	Belgium	2011 - 2012

Stockbased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Information with Respect to Stock Option Activity	'
	Information with respect to stock option activity for 2013 is as follows:
		Shares		Weighted		Weighted	Aggregate
		(in thousands)		Average		Average	Intrinsic
				Exercise		Remaining	Value
				Price		Contractual	(in thousands)
						Term
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	6,642		$	21.64	4.7
	Granted	1,029		24.58
	Exercised	(325	)	14.22
	Forfeited	(8	)	21.4
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	7,338		$	22.38	4.6	$	61,036
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013	5,973		$	21.82	3.6	$	53,284
	Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013	7,270		$	22.36	4.6	$	60,649
Information with Respect to Restricted Stock Unit Activity	'
	Information with respect to restricted stock unit activity for 2013 is as follows:
		Shares		Weighted
		(in thousands)		Average Grant
				Date Fair Value
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012	2,372		$	24.59
	Granted	1,180		23.93
	Vested and distributed	(566	)	26.71
	Forfeited	(198	)	24.03
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	2,788		$	21.16

Other_Employee_Benefit_Plans_T

Other Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Amounts recognized in other comprehensive earnings	'
	Amounts recognized in other comprehensive earnings during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, net of tax, are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012			2011
	Net earnings (loss)	$	2,665			$	448		$	(1,410	)
	Prior service cost	296				297			297
		$	2,961			$	745		$	(1,113	)
Components of accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss) related to the Companybs pension plans	'
	The following table sets forth the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31. 2013:
			Pension Plans				Cash Flow			Foreign		Total
			Items				Hedge Items			Currency
										Items
	Balance, December 31, 2012		$	(5,127	)		$	—		$	14,668	$	9,541
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		184				1,105			11,838		13,127
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of tax		2,777				555			—		3,332
	Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax		2,961				1,660			11,838		16,459
	Balance, December 31, 2013		$	(2,166	)		$	1,660		$	26,506	$	26,000
	Components of accumulated other comprehensive earnings related to the Company’s pension plans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013				2012
	Net loss	$	(1,836	)		$	(4,501	)
	Prior service cost	(330		)		(626		)
		$	(2,166	)		$	(5,127	)
Summary of the components of the net periodic pension expense for the benefit obligation and fund assets of the plans	'
	A summary of the components of the net periodic pension expense for the benefit obligation and fund assets of the plans is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at January 1	$	24,932			$	23,979
	Service costs	254				267
	Interest costs	883				936
	Actuarial (gain) loss	(296		)		(158		)
	Benefits paid	(13,292		)		(417		)
	Foreign currency exchange changes	70				325
	Benefit obligation at December 31	$	12,551			$	24,932
	Fair value of plan assets at December 31	$	—			$	—
	Unfunded status at December 31	$	12,551			$	24,932
	Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	Current liabilities	$	383			$	409
	Non-current liabilities	$	12,168			$	24,523
Weighted average assumptions used	'
	The weighted average assumptions used are as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Net periodic benefit cost:
	SERP:
	Discount rate	3.75	%		4	%
	Rate of increase in compensation levels	3	%		5	%
	Defined benefit pension plan for employees outside the United States:
	Discount rate	3.5	%		2.75	%
	Funded status and projected benefit obligation:
	SERP:
	Discount rate	4.75	%		3.75	%
	Rate of increase in compensation levels	3	%		3	%
	Defined benefit pension plan for employees outside the United States:
	Discount rate	3.5	%		2.75	%
Benefits expected to be paid under the plans	'
	Benefits expected to be paid under the plans are approximately (in thousands):
	2014	$	382
	2015	397
	2016	393
	2017	391
	2018	376
	Five years thereafter	13,881
		$	15,820
Components of net periodic benefit cost	'
	Components of net periodic benefit cost are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012			2011
	Service costs	$	254			$	267		$	205
	Interest costs	883				936			1,047
	Net amortization and deferral	1,111				1,205			903
	Settlement loss	3,305				—			—
	Net periodic pension costs	$	5,553			$	2,408		$	2,155
Components of net periodic benefit cost expected to be recognized from amounts in accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	'
	Components of net periodic benefit cost expected to be recognized from amounts in accumulated other comprehensive earnings during the year ending December 31, 2014 are as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ending December 31, 2014
	Net loss	$	107
	Net prior service cost	160
		$	267

Operating_Segments_and_Related1

Operating Segments and Related Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Operating Segment Information	'
	Operating segment information is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Revenue—External Customers:
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	727,939		$	628,019		$	660,256
	Raymarine	163,200			158,183			171,489
	Surveillance	456,490			486,355			577,552
	Detection	53,191			63,312			79,918
	Integrated Systems	95,552			69,489			54,847
		$	1,496,372		$	1,405,358		$	1,544,062
	Revenue—Intersegments:
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	16,449		$	15,204		$	18,553
	Raymarine	5			7			7
	Surveillance	25,420			23,013			32,266
	Detection	7,763			4,233			3,394
	Integrated Systems	1,217			1,537			6,639
	Eliminations	(50,854		)	(43,994		)	(60,859		)
		$	—		$	—		$	—
	Earnings (loss) from operations:
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	161,307		$	171,280		$	194,674
	Raymarine	14,184			11,173			11,855
	Surveillance	126,034			160,219			208,510
	Detection	(184		)	1,089			(5,568		)
	Integrated Systems	(1,907		)	5,168			1,659
	Other	(58,691		)	(45,599		)	(97,935		)
		$	240,743		$	303,330		$	313,195
Segment Assets	'
		December 31,
		2013			2012
					(as adjusted)
	Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories):
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	261,204		$	265,132
	Raymarine	63,628			73,564
	Surveillance	262,759			317,944
	Detection	21,754			31,861
	Integrated Systems	21,947			25,742
		$	631,292		$	714,243
By Significant Geographical Location	'
	Revenue and Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area
	Information related to revenue by significant geographical location, determined by the end customer, is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	United States	$	755,640		$	717,841		$	803,423
	Europe	370,800			337,163			382,388
	Other foreign	369,932			350,354			358,251
		$	1,496,372		$	1,405,358		$	1,544,062
	Long-lived assets are comprised of net property and equipment, net identifiable intangible assets, goodwill and other long-term assets. Long-lived assets by significant geographic locations are as follows (in thousands):
		December 31,
		2013			2012
					(as adjusted)
	United States	$	600,261		$	584,623
	Europe	359,444			353,800
	Other foreign	56,040			54,763
		$	1,015,745		$	993,186
Revenue Derived from Major Customers	'
	Major Customers
	Revenue derived from major customers is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	United States government	$	354,902		$	373,540		$	444,882

Business_Acquisitions_Business

Business Acquisitions Business Acquisitions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Lorex Technology Inc. [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	'
	The allocation of the purchase price is as follows (in thousands):
	Cash acquired	$	1,170
	Accounts receivable, net	10,183
	Inventories	13,967
	Property and equipment	1,049
	Other assets	3,004
	Liabilities	(10,252		)
	Net tangible assets	19,121
	Net deferred taxes	(4,171		)
	Identifiable intangible assets	15,100
	Goodwill	31,121
	Purchase price	$	61,171
	None of the goodwill recognized is deductible for income tax purposes.
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]	'
	The identifiable intangible assets and the estimated useful life of each are as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated		Amount
		Useful Life
	Lorex Trade Name	indefinite		$	6,800
	Customer Relationships	7 years		8,300
				$	15,100
Traficon International NV	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	'
	The allocation of the purchase price is as follows (in thousands):
	Cash acquired	$	181
	Accounts receivable, net	6,435
	Inventories	2,853
	Property and equipment	179
	Other assets	657
	Liabilities	(5,248		)
	Net tangible assets	5,057
	Net deferred taxes	(6,903		)
	Identifiable intangible assets	20,102
	Goodwill	30,107
	Purchase price	$	48,363
	None of the goodwill recognized is deductible for income tax purposes.
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]	'
	The identifiable intangible assets and the estimated useful life of each are as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated		Amount
		Useful Life
	Patented/Proprietary Technology	10 years		$	5,951
	Backlog	1.5 years		1,852
	Customer Relationships	10 years		12,299
				$	20,102
DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]	'
	The allocation of the purchase price for DOC Charlotte is as follows (in thousands):
	Inventories	$	741
	Property and equipment	9,246
	Net tangible assets	9,987
	Identifiable intangible assets	2,520
	Goodwill	2,401
	Purchase price	$	14,908
	None of the goodwill recognized is deductible for income tax purposes.
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]	'
	The identifiable intangible assets and the estimated useful life of each are as follows (in thousands):
		Estimated		Amount
		Useful Life
	Patented/Proprietary Technology	12 years		$	2,000
	Backlog	2 years		150
	Customer Relationships	2.5 years		370
				$	2,520

Restructuring_Costs_Restructur1

Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Restructuring and Related costs [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company recorded the restructuring expenses in the segments as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Thermal Vision and Measurement	$	17,370		$	—
	Raymarine	361			—
	Surveillance	3,598			—
	Detection	4,222			2,000
	Integrated Systems	1,761			—
	Other	209			—
		$	27,521		$	2,000
	Restructuring expenses were recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012
	Cost of goods sold	$	1,689		$	—
	Restructuring expenses	25,832			2,000
		$	27,521		$	2,000
	The following table summarizes the activity by cost type (in thousands):
		Severance			Inventory			Facilities Exit, Lease Terminations & Other			Total
					write downs
	2013 restructuring expenses	$	19,866		$	1,689		$	5,966		$	27,521
	Utilization	(1,675		)	(1,689		)	(2,296		)	(5,660		)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	18,191		$	—		$	3,670		$	21,861

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Unaud1

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	'
	QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
	FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
	(In thousands, except per share data)
		Q1			Q2			Q3			Q4
	2013
	Revenue	$	348,583		$	389,329		$	358,141		$	400,319
	Gross profit	183,987			190,041			172,890			190,092
	Net earnings	51,636			50,158			46,486			28,735
	Earnings per share:
	Basic earnings per share	$	0.36		$	0.35		$	0.33		$	0.2
	Diluted earnings per share	$	0.35		$	0.35		$	0.32		$	0.2
	2012 (as adjusted)
	Revenue	$	348,452		$	338,291		$	332,230		$	386,385
	Gross profit(1)	182,727			173,417			173,665			205,375
	Earnings from continuing operations	48,825			42,405			55,949			78,177
	Loss from discontinued operations	(686		)	(1,312		)	(44		)	(916		)
	Net earnings	48,139			41,093			55,905			77,261
	Basic earnings per share:
	Continuing operations	$	0.32		$	0.28		$	0.37		$	0.53
	Discontinued operations	(0.00		)	(0.01		)	(0.00		)	(0.01		)
	Basic earnings per share	$	0.31		$	0.27		$	0.37		$	0.52
	Diluted earnings per share:
	Continuing operations	$	0.31		$	0.27		$	0.37		$	0.52
	Discontinued operations	(0.00		)	(0.01		)	(0.00		)	(0.01		)
	Diluted earnings per share	$	0.31		$	0.27		$	0.37		$	0.52
	_______________

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi3

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator for earnings per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Earnings from continuing operations	$78,177	$55,949	$42,405	$48,825	$177,015	$225,356	$222,652
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	-916	-44	-1,312	-686	0	-2,958	-1,178
Net earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share	'	'	'	'	$177,015	$222,398	$221,474
Denominator for earnings per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	'	'	'	'	142,446	151,634	158,323
Assumed exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock awards, net of shares assumed reacquired under the treasury stock method	'	'	'	'	2,149	1,960	2,528
Diluted shares outstanding	'	'	'	'	144,595	153,594	160,851

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi4

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash paid for:	'	'	'
Interest	$12,922	$10,239	$1,119
Taxes	$88,277	$74,333	$106,215

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi5

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense before income taxes	$27,823	$26,250	$24,917
Income tax benefit	-8,598	-7,737	-6,976
Total stock-based compensation expense after income taxes	19,225	18,513	17,941
Cost of goods sold	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	2,591	3,197	3,306
Research and development	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	4,938	5,001	5,195
Selling, general and administrative	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	$20,294	$18,052	$16,416

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi6

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation, Allocation and Classification in Financial Statements [Abstract]	'	'	'
Capitalized in inventory	$734	$470	$819

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi7

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Option Awards	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]	'	'	'
Risk-free interest rate	0.30%	0.40%	1.00%
Expected dividend yield	1.50%	1.30%	0.70%
Expected term	'4 years 3 months 18 days	'4 years 2 months 12 days	'4 years 3 months 18 days
Expected volatility	33.70%	39.70%	42.30%
Market-based restricted stock unit	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]	'	'	'
Risk-free interest rate	0.30%	0.40%	'
Expected dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	'
Expected term	'2 years 2 months 12 days	'3 years	'
Market-based restricted stock unit | FLIR [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected volatility	28.80%	30.70%	'
Market-based restricted stock unit | S&P 500 [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected volatility	18.10%	19.60%	'
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]	'	'	'
Risk-free interest rate	0.10%	0.20%	0.10%
Expected dividend yield	1.40%	1.30%	0.80%
Expected term	'6 months	'6 months	'6 months
Expected volatility	28.10%	25.20%	33.10%

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi8

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Option Awards	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$5.92	$6.43	$11.61
Total fair value of awards granted	$6,095	$4,104	$4,613
Total fair value of awards vested	5,059	6,023	8,492
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	4,642	5,928	21,234
Restricted Stock Unit Awards	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$23.94	$17.23	$34.35
Total fair value of awards granted	28,200	30,660	21,822
Total fair value of awards vested	13,846	12,710	19,865
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$5.94	$4.66	$6.99
Total fair value of shares estimated to be issued	$1,169	$1,694	$2,359

Nature_of_Business_and_Signifi9

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Changes from Accumulated Other Comprehensive income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Pension plans, beginning balance	($5,127)	'	'
Pension plans adjustment, before reclassification	184	'	'
Pension plans, reclassification	2,777	'	'
Pension plans adjustment, after reclassification	2,961	745	-1,113
Pension plans, ending balalnce	-2,166	-5,127	'
Cash flow hedges, beginning balance	0	'	'
Cash flow hedges adjustment, before reclassification	1,105	'	'
Cash flow hedges, reclassification	555	'	'
Cash flow hedges adjustment, after reclassification	1,660	0	0
Cash flow hedges, ending balance	1,660	0	'
Foreign currency translation, beginning balance	14,668	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	11,838	20,790	-12,533
Foreign currency translation, ending balance	26,506	14,668	'
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, beginning balance	9,541	'	'
Other comprehensive earnings, before reclassifications	13,127	'	'
Other comprehensive earnings, reclassification	3,332	'	'
Other comprehensive earnings, after adjustment	16,459	21,535	-13,646
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, ending balance	$26,000	$9,541	'

Recovered_Sheet1

Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	$26,506,000	$14,668,000	'
Gains and (losses) netted against other income, net	-300,000	-3,000,000	1,100,000
Carrying value of demonstration units	42,700,000	35,800,000	'
Advertising costs	10,700,000	8,500,000	11,100,000
Carrying value of cost-basis investments	13,500,000	13,500,000	'
Effect of stock-based compensation awards, shares excluded for purposes of diluted earnings per share	549,000	1,198,000	352,000
Unrecognized stock-based compensation costs, net of estimated forfeitures	42,700,000	'	'
Weighted average period of unrecognized stock-based compensation costs, net of estimated forfeitures	'1 year 9 months 18 days	'	'
Estimated forfeiture rate	5.00%	'	'
Level 1	'	'	'
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	28,500,000	5,900,000	'
Time-vested restricted stock unit	'	'	'
Restricted stock units granted	1,173,000	985,000	534,000
Performance-based restricted stock unit	'	'	'
Restricted stock units granted	'	'	101,000
Time-vested and performance-based restricted stock unit	'	'	'
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$23.98	$21.66	$34.35
Market-based restricted stock unit	'	'	'
Restricted stock units granted	7,000	795,000	'
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$15.87	$11.73	'
Total fair value of awards granted	100,000	9,300,000	'
Restricted Stock Unit Awards	'	'	'
Total fair value of awards granted	28,200,000	30,660,000	21,822,000
Stock Option Awards	'	'	'
Weighted average grant date fair value per share	$5.92	$6.43	$11.61
Cash received from the exercise of stock options	4,600,000	3,600,000	13,800,000
Related tax benefit realized from the exercise of the stock options	600,000	100,000	5,500,000
Employee Severance [Member]	'	'	'
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment	'	3,800,000	700,000
Demonstration units [Member]	'	'	'
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment	'	$2,300,000	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Level 1	'	'
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$28.50	$5.90
Level 2	'	'
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of long-term debt	$259.50	'

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen2

Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts	$121,930	$129,037
Swedish Kronor	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts	99,214	98,385
Currency Euro [Member]	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts	265	2,232
Currency British Pound Sterling [Member]	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts	5,641	15,619
Australian Dollar	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts	5,986	7,022
Japan, Yen	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts	4,462	5,157
Other	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign currency forward contracts	$6,362	$622

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen3

Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 2) (Foreign exchange contracts, USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Current Assets	'	'
Derivatives [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying amount of derivative asset	$392	$2,106
Other Current Liabilities	'	'
Derivatives [Line Items]	'	'
Carrying amount of derivative liability	$613	$229

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen4

Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 3) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			March 15, 2013 Interest Rate Swap	March 29, 2013 Interest Rate Swap
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Contract Date	'	'	15-Mar-13	29-Mar-13
Notional Amount	$121,930	$129,037	$69,400	$69,400
Fixed Rate	'	'	1.02%	0.97%
Effective Date	'	'	5-Apr-13	5-Apr-13
Maturity Date	'	'	31-Mar-19	31-Mar-19

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen5

Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net gain (loss)	($4,600,000)	$5,100,000	($2,300,000)
Remaining maturities of foreign currency forward contracts	'6 months	'	'
Term loan, effective interest rate	2.49%	'	'
Interest Rate Derivative Asset, at Fair Value, Net	2,500,000	'	'
Interest Rate Derivative Assets, at Fair Value	3,500,000	'	'
Interest Rate Derivative Liabilities, at Fair Value	1,000,000	'	'
Fair value adjustment on interest rate swap contracts	$1,660,000	$0	$0

Accounts_Receivable_Details

Accounts Receivable (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts, beginning of year	$6,574	$5,556	$5,104
Charges to costs and expenses	1,571	2,383	1,699
Write-offs of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries	-505	-1,055	-973
Business acquisitions and disposals	0	-351	-148
Currency translation adjustments	34	41	-126
Allowance for doubtful accounts, end of year	$7,674	$6,574	$5,556

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Raw material and subassemblies	$204,542	$231,273
Work-in-progress	45,060	50,644
Finished goods	95,117	97,163
Total inventories	$344,719	$379,080

Property_and_Equipment_Details

Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Land

Land

Building

Building

Building

Machinery and equipment

Machinery and equipment

Machinery and equipment

Machinery and equipment

Office equipment and other

Office equipment and other

Office equipment and other

Office equipment and other

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property and equipment, gross

$469,305

$402,085

$25,254

$23,194

$115,206

$109,587

'

$237,179

$186,303

'

'

$91,666

$83,001

'

'

Less accumulated depreciation

-235,264

-190,470

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property and equipment, net

$234,041

$211,615

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property and equipment estimated useful life

'

'

'

'

'

'

'30 years

'

'

'3 years

'7 years

'

'

'3 years

'10 years

Property_and_Equipment_Details1

Property and Equipment (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'
Depreciation	$35.90	$35.30	$43.80

Goodwill_Details

Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	$564,306	$498,343
Currency translation adjustments	6,531	4,735
Goodwill from Acquisitions	4,864	'
Ending Balance	575,701	564,306
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	'	61,228
2012 goodwill balance, as originally reported	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Ending Balance	'	503,078
Thermal Vision and Measurement	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	314,454	251,187
Currency translation adjustments	4,669	2,039
Goodwill from Acquisitions	2,401	'
Ending Balance	321,524	314,454
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	'	61,228
Thermal Vision and Measurement | 2012 goodwill balance, as originally reported	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Ending Balance	'	253,226
Raymarine	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	100,744	98,364
Currency translation adjustments	1,684	2,380
Goodwill from Acquisitions	0	'
Ending Balance	102,428	100,744
Surveillance	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	90,817	90,501
Currency translation adjustments	77	316
Goodwill from Acquisitions	0	'
Ending Balance	90,894	90,817
Detection	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	38,162	38,162
Currency translation adjustments	0	0
Goodwill from Acquisitions	0	'
Ending Balance	38,162	38,162
Integrated Systems	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning Balance	20,129	20,129
Currency translation adjustments	101	0
Goodwill from Acquisitions	2,463	'
Ending Balance	$22,693	$20,129

Intangible_Assets_Details

Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net carrying amount	$154,195,000	$175,823,000	'
Aggregate amortization expense	24,700,000	24,400,000	33,200,000
2014	21,450,000	'	'
2015	16,510,000	'	'
2016	12,025,000	'	'
2017	11,544,000	'	'
2018	9,391,000	'	'
Acquired identifiable intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross carrying amount	222,140,000	250,010,000	'
Less accumulated amortization	-70,517,000	-78,328,000	'
Net carrying amount	151,623,000	171,682,000	'
Product technology | Acquired identifiable intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	69,919,000	94,975,000	'
Weighted average estimated useful life	'11 years	'	'
Customer relationships | Acquired identifiable intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	83,899,000	84,681,000	'
Weighted average estimated useful life	'11 years	'	'
Trademarks and tradename portfolios | Acquired identifiable intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	7,160,000	7,160,000	'
Weighted average estimated useful life	'15 years	'	'
Other | Acquired identifiable intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	21,996,000	24,319,000	'
Weighted average estimated useful life	'5 years	'	'
Patents | Nonacquired intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	4,471,000	4,464,000	'
Less accumulated amortization	-3,989,000	-3,960,000	'
Net carrying amount	482,000	504,000	'
Weighted average estimated useful life	'17 years	'	'
Acquired in-place leases and other | Nonacquired intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,333,000	9,150,000	'
Less accumulated amortization	-7,243,000	-5,513,000	'
Net carrying amount	2,090,000	3,637,000	'
Weighted average estimated useful life	'6 years	'	'
Tradename not subject to amortization [Member] | Acquired identifiable intangibles	'	'	'
Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross carrying amount	$39,166,000	$38,875,000	'

Intangible_Assets_Intangible_D

Intangible Assets Intangible (Details textual ) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Marine & Remote Sensing Solutions [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	$375
DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	2,520
Lorex Technology Inc. [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	15,100
Traficon International NV	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	$20,102

Credit_Agreement_Details

Credit Agreement (Details) (Bank Of America February Two Thousand Eleven New Credit Agreement, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 08, 2011
	covenants
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum borrowing capacity	'	$200
Option to increase maximum borrowing capacity	'	150
Term of agreement	'	'5 years
Eurodollar interest rate, variable interest rate lower limit	1.67%	'
Prime lending rate, variable interest rate upper limit	3.75%	'
Commitment fee rate	0.30%	'
Covenant terms	'The Credit Agreement contains two financial covenants that require the maintenance of a total leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio	'
Letters of credit outstanding	19.5	'
Letter of Credit Facility, Number of Covenants	2	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Commitment fee rate	0.25%	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Commitment fee rate	0.40%	'
Long-term Debt [Member]	'	'
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'
Term loan	$150	'

Accrued_Product_Warranties_Det

Accrued Product Warranties (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accrued product warranties, beginning of year	$16,152	$16,046	$18,686
Amounts paid for warranty services	-10,372	-12,317	-11,849
Warranty provisions for products sold	10,917	10,477	9,519
Business acquisitions and disposals	0	839	-20
Currency translation adjustments and other	1,035	1,107	-290
Accrued product warranties, end of year	17,732	16,152	16,046
Current accrued product warranties, end of year	14,665	13,169	13,370
Long-term accrued product warranties, end of ear	$3,067	$2,983	$2,676
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'	'
Product warranty term	12	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]	'	'	'
Product warranty term	24	'	'

LongTerm_Debt_Details

Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013
			3.75 % senior unsecured notes due September 1, 2016	Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Unsecured notes	$250,000,000	$250,000,000	'	'
Long-term Debt, Gross	138,750,000	0	'	'
Unamortized issuance costs	-1,222,000	-1,681,000	'	'
Long-term Debt	387,528,000	248,319,000	'	'
Current portion, long-term debt	15,000,000	0	'	'
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities	372,528,000	248,319,000	'	'
Senior unsecured notes, issued amount	'	'	250,000,000	'
Senior unsecured notes, interest rate	'	'	3.75%	'
Senior unsecured notes, maturity date	'	'	1-Sep-16	5-Apr-19
Senior unsecured notes, proceeds	'	'	247,700,000	'
Senior unsecured notes, term	'5 years	'	'5 years	'
Senior unsecured notes, interest payments	'quarterly	'	'semiannually	'
Senior unsecured notes, interest payment dates	'	'	'March 1 and September 1	'
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	'	'	'	$3,750,000
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis	'	'	'	'Interest is accrued at a one-month LIBOR rate

Commitments_Details

Commitments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Commitments [Abstract]	'	'	'
Total net rent expense	$18,300,000	$13,600,000	$10,100,000
Net Operating Leases	'	'	'
2014	11,680,000	'	'
2015	7,557,000	'	'
2016	2,435,000	'	'
2017	1,488,000	'	'
2018	1,428,000	'	'
Thereafter	1,718,000	'	'
Total minimum payments	26,306,000	'	'
Other Contractual Obligations	'	'	'
2014	1,020,000	'	'
2015	1,008,000	'	'
2016	550,000	'	'
2017	550,000	'	'
2018	550,000	'	'
Thereafter	0	'	'
Total minimum payments	$3,678,000	'	'

Contingencies_Details

Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	20-May-11	Oct. 27, 2010
Disclosure - Contingencies - Additional Information [Abstract]	'	'
Litigation settlement payment	$39	$3

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes [Abstract]	'	'	'
United States	$118,269	$180,022	$192,219
Foreign	110,717	111,890	118,860
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	228,986	291,912	311,079
Current tax expense (benefit):	'	'	'
Federal	38,249	53,187	62,858
State	4,413	-3,075	9,262
Foreign	13,483	21,138	24,452
Current income tax expense (benefit)	56,145	71,250	96,572
Deferred tax expense (benefit):	'	'	'
Federal	-252	3,194	-5,185
State	-335	1,887	-993
Foreign	-3,587	-9,775	-1,967
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	-4,174	-4,694	-8,145
Total provision	$51,971	$66,556	$88,427

Income_Taxes_Details_2

Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

Foreign

State taxes

Current deferred tax assets

Current deferred tax assets

Current deferred tax assets

Current deferred tax assets

Current deferred tax assets

Current deferred tax assets

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

Noncurrent deferred tax assets

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

Foreign

Foreign

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

Foreign

Foreign

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

Foreign

Foreign

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

Foreign

State taxes

UNITED STATES FEDERAL

Foreign

State taxes

Income Taxes [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Allowance for doubtful accounts

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1,295,000

$1,123,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued product warranties

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,069,000

3,099,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Inventory basis differences

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

11,421,000

9,225,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accrued liabilities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,987,000

7,206,000

4,504,000

0

7,624,000

6,033,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred revenue

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,775,000

2,205,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net operating loss carry-forwards

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,449,000

8,085,000

'

'

6,143,000

11,588,000

760,000

8,119,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit carry-forwards

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6,391,000

7,034,000

0

3,590,000

'

'

'

'

2,922,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Domestic depreciation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-5,455,000

-7,222,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,198,000

7,491,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock-based compensation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

17,239,000

13,745,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Intangibles

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-14,450,000

-15,999,000

0

-1,259,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-1,024,000

-1,025,000

913,000

1,042,000

1,416,000

4,018,000

16,000

-78,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Valuation allowance

-13,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-4,999,000

-4,837,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred income taxes, net

38,389,000

30,960,000

'

'

'

38,389,000

30,960,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred income taxes, net

17,883,000

32,223,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

17,883,000

32,223,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Foreign depreciation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,418,000

3,196,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Foreign intangibles

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-18,528,000

-23,597,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Foreign net operating loss carry-forwards

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,930,000

5,336,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Foreign other

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

461,000

504,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Valuation allowance

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-8,457,000

-4,510,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred income taxes

12,255,000

19,071,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-12,254,000

-19,071,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating loss carry-forwards

'

'

39,800,000

101,500,000

75,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2018

'2018

'2018

'2031

'2033

'2033

Net deferred tax assets

44,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cumulative amount of earnings upon which United States income taxes have not been provided

$799,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income_Taxes_Details_3

Income Taxes (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure - Income Taxes - Additional Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Statutory federal tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Foreign rate differential	-11.60%	-10.40%	-3.80%
Foreign, federal and state income tax credits	-2.20%	-2.70%	-2.90%
State taxes	1.00%	0.30%	2.20%
Non-deductible expenses	0.50%	0.70%	-1.20%
Other	0.00%	-0.10%	-0.90%
Effective tax rate	22.70%	22.80%	28.40%

Income_Taxes_Details_4

Income Taxes (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance, beginning of year	$35,143,000	$29,200,000	$30,949,000
Increases related to current year tax positions	979,000	7,220,000	1,225,000
Increases related to prior year tax positions	714,000	1,559,000	4,192,000
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	-2,736,000	-343,000	-4,608,000
Lapse of statute of limitations	-2,012,000	-1,887,000	-2,558,000
Settlements	-2,555,000	-606,000	0
Balance, end of year	29,533,000	35,143,000	29,200,000
Unrecognized tax benefits which would affect the effective tax rate if recognized	29,500,000	'	'
Accrued interest and penalties	2,600,000	'	'
Accrued interest and penalties net of federal and state benefits	$2,500,000	'	'

Income_Taxes_Details_5

Income Taxes (Details 5)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
United States Federal | Maximum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2012
State of California | Minimum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2008
State of California | Maximum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2012
MASSACHUSETTS | Minimum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2011
MASSACHUSETTS | Maximum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2012
OREGON | Maximum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2012
SWEDEN | Minimum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2008
SWEDEN | Maximum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2012
UNITED KINGDOM | Minimum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2007
UNITED KINGDOM | Maximum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2012
BELGIUM | Minimum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2011
BELGIUM | Maximum	'
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]	'
Tax years open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions	'2012

Stockbased_Compensation_Detail

Stock-based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Shares	'	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	6,642	'
Granted	1,029	'
Exercised	-325	'
Forfeited	-8	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	7,338	6,642
Exercisable at December 31, 2013	5,973	'
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013	7,270	'
Weighted-Average Exercise Price	'	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	$21.64	'
Granted	$24.58	'
Exercised	$14.22	'
Forfeited	$21.40	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	$22.38	$21.64
Exercisable at December 31, 2013	$21.82	'
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013	$22.36	'
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)	'	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	'4 years 7 months 6 days	'4 years 8 months 12 days
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	'4 years 7 months 6 days	'4 years 8 months 12 days
Exercisable at December 31, 2013	'3 years 7 months 6 days	'
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013	'4 years 7 months 6 days	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value	'	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	$61,036	'
Exercisable at December 31, 2013	53,284	'
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013	$60,649	'

Stockbased_Compensation_Detail1

Stock-based Compensation (Details 2) (Restricted Stock [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under all of the stock incentive plans	12,080,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested [Roll Forward]	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	2,372,000
Granted	1,180,000
Vested and distributed	-566,000
Forfeited	-198,000
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	2,788,000
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value	'
Outstanding at December 31, 2012	$24.59
Granted	$23.93
Vested and distributed	$26.71
Forfeited	$24.03
Outstanding at December 31, 2013	$21.16

Stockbased_Compensation_Detail2

Stock-based Compensation (Details 3) (Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP))	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)	'
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under all of the stock incentive plans	3,630,000
Discount from fair market value of the stock	85.00%
Shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP	5,000,000
Number of common stock shares issued	223,000

Other_Employee_Benefit_Plans_O

Other Employee Benefit Plans Other Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
401(k) matching contributions	$4.90	$5.80	$7.50
Pension liability	$3.40	$8.10	'

Other_Employee_Benefit_Plans_O1

Other Employee Benefit Plans Other Employee Benefit Plans (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss)	$2,665	$448	($1,410)
Prior service cost	296	297	297
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	2,961	745	-1,113
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Amounts that Will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) in Next Fiscal Year [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net loss	-1,836	-4,501	'
Prior service cost	-330	-626	'
Total recognized in AOCI	($2,166)	($5,127)	'

Other_Employee_Benefit_Plans_O2

Other Employee Benefit Plans Other Employee Benefit Plans (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Change in benefit obligation:	'	'	'
Benefit obligation at January 1	$24,932	$23,979	'
Service costs	254	267	205
Interest costs	883	936	1,047
Actuarial loss (gain)	-296	-158	'
Benefits paid	-13,292	-417	'
Foreign currency exchange changes	70	325	'
Benefit obligation at December 31	12,551	24,932	23,979
Fair value of plan assets at December 31	0	0	'
Unfunded status at December 31	12,551	24,932	'
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:	'	'	'
Current liabilities	383	409	'
Non-current liabilities	$12,168	$24,523	'
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP)	'	'	'
Net periodic benefit cost:	'	'	'
Discount rate	3.75%	4.00%	'
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.00%	5.00%	'
Funded status and projected benefit obligation:	'	'	'
Discount rate	4.75%	3.75%	'
Rate of increase in compensation levels	3.00%	3.00%	'
Defined benefit pension plan for employees outside the United States	'	'	'
Net periodic benefit cost:	'	'	'
Discount rate	3.50%	2.75%	'
Funded status and projected benefit obligation:	'	'	'
Discount rate	3.50%	2.75%	'

Other_Employee_Benefit_Plans_D

Other Employee Benefit Plans (Details 4) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2014	$382
2015	397
2016	393
2017	391
2018	376
Five years thereafter	13,881
Total expected future benefit payments	$15,820

Other_Employee_Benefit_Plans_O3

Other Employee Benefit Plans Other Employee Benefit Plans (Details 5) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]	'	'	'
Service costs	$254	$267	$205
Interest costs	883	936	1,047
Net amortization and deferral	1,111	1,205	903
Settlement loss	3,305	0	0
Net periodic pension costs	5,553	2,408	2,155
Defined Benefit Plan, Amount to be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Next Fiscal Year [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net loss	107	'	'
Net prior service cost	160	'	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Amounts that Will be Amortized from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) in Next Fiscal Year	$267	'	'

Operating_Segments_and_Related2

Operating Segments and Related Information Operating Segments and Related Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
	operating_segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Business divisions	2
Commercial Systems division	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Operating segments	2
Government Systems division	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Operating segments	3

Operating_Segments_and_Related3

Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	$400,319	$358,141	$389,329	$348,583	$386,385	$332,230	$338,291	$348,452	$1,496,372	$1,405,358	$1,544,062
Intersegment revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	240,743	303,330	313,195
Thermal Vision and Measurement	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	727,939	628,019	660,256
Intersegment revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	16,449	15,204	18,553
Earnings (loss) from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	161,307	171,280	194,674
Raymarine	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	163,200	158,183	171,489
Intersegment revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5	7	7
Earnings (loss) from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	14,184	11,173	11,855
Surveillance	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	456,490	486,355	577,552
Intersegment revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	25,420	23,013	32,266
Earnings (loss) from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	126,034	160,219	208,510
Detection	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	53,191	63,312	79,918
Intersegment revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	7,763	4,233	3,394
Earnings (loss) from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-184	1,089	-5,568
Integrated Systems	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	95,552	69,489	54,847
Intersegment revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,217	1,537	6,639
Earnings (loss) from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1,907	5,168	1,659
Eliminations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Intersegment revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	50,854	43,994	60,859
Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Earnings (loss) from operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	($58,691)	($45,599)	($97,935)

Operating_Segments_and_Related4

Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 3) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories)	$631,292	$714,243
Thermal Vision and Measurement | Continuing Operations	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories)	261,204	265,132
Raymarine | Continuing Operations	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories)	63,628	73,564
Surveillance | Continuing Operations	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories)	262,759	317,944
Detection | Continuing Operations	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories)	21,754	31,861
Integrated Systems | Continuing Operations	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Segment assets (accounts receivable, net and inventories)	$21,947	$25,742

Operating_Segments_and_Related5

Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	$400,319	$358,141	$389,329	$348,583	$386,385	$332,230	$338,291	$348,452	$1,496,372	$1,405,358	$1,544,062
United States	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	755,640	717,841	803,423
Europe [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	370,800	337,163	382,388
Other Geographic Region [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$369,932	$350,354	$358,251

Operating_Segments_and_Related6

Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 5) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Long-lived assets	$1,015,745	$993,186
United States	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Long-lived assets	600,261	584,623
Europe [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Long-lived assets	359,444	353,800
Other Geographic Region [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'
Long-lived assets	$56,040	$54,763

Operating_Segments_and_Related7

Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 6) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue	$400,319	$358,141	$389,329	$348,583	$386,385	$332,230	$338,291	$348,452	$1,496,372	$1,405,358	$1,544,062
United States government	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$354,902	$373,540	$444,882

Business_Acquisitions_Business1

Business Acquisitions Business Acquisitions (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 24, 2013	Dec. 28, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Lorex Technology Inc. [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash acquired	$1,170	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	10,183	'	'
Inventory	13,967	'	'
Property and Equipment	1,049	'	'
Other assets	3,004	'	'
Liabilities	-10,252	'	'
Net tangible assets	19,121	'	'
Net deferred taxes	-4,171	'	'
Identifiable intangible assets	15,100	'	'
Goodwill	31,121	'	'
Purchase price	61,171	'	'
Traficon International NV	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash acquired	181	'	'
Accounts receivable, net	6,435	'	'
Inventory	2,853	'	'
Property and Equipment	179	'	'
Other assets	657	'	'
Liabilities	-5,248	'	'
Net tangible assets	5,057	'	'
Net deferred taxes	-6,903	'	'
Identifiable intangible assets	20,102	'	'
Goodwill	30,107	'	'
Purchase price	48,363	2,100	46,300
DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Inventory	741	'	'
Property and Equipment	9,246	'	'
Net tangible assets	9,987	'	'
Identifiable intangible assets	2,520	'	'
Goodwill	2,401	'	'
Purchase price	$14,908	'	'

Business_Acquisitions_Details_

Business Acquisitions (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Lorex Technology Inc. [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	$15,100
Traficon International NV	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	20,102
Marine & Remote Sensing Solutions [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	375
DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	2,520
Patented Technology [Member] | Traficon International NV	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	5,951
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'10 years
Patented Technology [Member] | DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	2,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'12 years
Order or Production Backlog [Member] | Traficon International NV	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	1,852
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'1 year 6 months
Order or Production Backlog [Member] | DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	150
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'2 years
Trade Names [Member] | Lorex Technology Inc. [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Indefinite-lived intangible asset	6,800
Customer relationships | Lorex Technology Inc. [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	8,300
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'7 years
Customer relationships | Traficon International NV	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	12,299
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'10 years
Customer relationships | DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	$370
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'2 years 6 months

Business_Acquisitions_Business2

Business Acquisitions Business Acquisitions (Details textual) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 24, 2013	Dec. 28, 2012
Lorex Technology Inc. [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Purchase price	$61,171,000	'	'
Net tangible assets	19,121,000	'	'
Excess purchase price	42,000,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	15,100,000	'	'
Goodwill	31,121,000	'	'
Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount	0	'	'
Traficon International NV	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Purchase price	48,363,000	2,100,000	46,300,000
Net tangible assets	5,057,000	'	'
Excess purchase price	41,000,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	20,102,000	'	'
Goodwill	30,107,000	'	'
Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount	0	'	'
Marine & Remote Sensing Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Purchase price	3,200,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	375,000	'	'
Goodwill	2,500,000	'	'
DigitalOptics Charlotte [Member]	'	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'
Purchase price	14,908,000	'	'
Net tangible assets	9,987,000	'	'
Finite-lived intangible asset	2,520,000	'	'
Goodwill	2,401,000	'	'
Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount	$0	'	'

Discontinued_Operations_Detail

Discontinued Operations (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
	business_units
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Number of business units sold	2

Shareholders_Equity_Details

Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 25, 2013	Feb. 28, 2011
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock authorized to be repurchased, number of shares	'	'	'	'	25,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock repurchased, value	'	$162,078	$214,195	$160,669	'	'
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased	19,012,000	19,012,000	'	'	'	'
Common stock dividends, paid per share	$0.09	'	$0.07	$0.06	'	'
Common stock dividends, total cash paid	'	51,404	42,450	38,037	'	'
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock	'	51,404	42,450	38,037	'	'
Common Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock repurchased, shares	'	5,988,000	10,466,000	6,135,000	'	'
Common stock repurchased, value	'	162,078	214,195	160,669	'	'
Retained Earnings	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common stock dividends, total cash paid	'	$51,404	$42,450	$38,037	'	'

Restructuring_Costs_Restructur2

Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	$25,832	$2,000	$0
Total COGS and SGA	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	27,521	2,000	'
Thermal Vision and Measurement	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	17,370	0	'
Raymarine	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	361	0	'
Surveillance	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	3,598	0	'
Detection	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	4,222	2,000	'
Integrated Systems	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	1,761	0	'
Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	$209	$0	'

Restructuring_Costs_Restructur3

Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	$25,832	$2,000	$0
Cost of Goods Sold	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	1,689	0	'
Selling, general and administrative	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	25,832	2,000	'
Total COGS and SGA	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	$27,521	$2,000	'

Restructuring_Costs_Restructur4

Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	$25,832	$2,000	$0
Total COGS and SGA	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	27,521	2,000	'
Utilization	-5,660	-600	'
Restructuring Reserve	21,861	'	'
Total COGS and SGA | Employee Severance [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	19,866	'	'
Utilization	-1,675	'	'
Restructuring Reserve	18,191	'	'
Total COGS and SGA | Asset write-down [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	1,689	'	'
Utilization	-1,689	'	'
Restructuring Reserve	0	'	'
Total COGS and SGA | Facility Exit [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring expenses	5,966	'	'
Utilization	-2,296	'	'
Restructuring Reserve	$3,670	'	'

Subsequent_Events_Details

Subsequent Events (Details) (Dividend Declared [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 07, 2014
Dividend Declared [Member]	'	'
Subsequent Event [Line Items]	'	'
Dividends Payable, Date Declared	7-Feb-14	'
Quarterly dividend, value per share	'	$0.10
Quarterly dividend, date to be paid	7-Mar-14	'
Quarterly dividend, date of record	19-Feb-14	'
Quarterly dividend, amount declared	$14.10	'

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Unaud2

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	20-May-11	Oct. 27, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Revenue	'	'	$400,319,000	$358,141,000	$389,329,000	$348,583,000	$386,385,000		$332,230,000		$338,291,000		$348,452,000		$1,496,372,000	$1,405,358,000	$1,544,062,000
Gross profit	'	'	190,092,000	172,890,000	190,041,000	183,987,000	205,375,000	[1]	173,665,000	[1]	173,417,000	[1]	182,727,000	[1]	737,010,000	735,184,000	829,319,000
Earnings from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	78,177,000		55,949,000		42,405,000		48,825,000		177,015,000	225,356,000	222,652,000
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	-916,000		-44,000		-1,312,000		-686,000		0	-2,958,000	-1,178,000
Net earnings	'	'	28,735,000	46,486,000	50,158,000	51,636,000	77,261,000		55,905,000		41,093,000		48,139,000		177,015,000	222,398,000	221,474,000
Basic earnings per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	$0.53		$0.37		$0.28		$0.32		$1.24	$1.49	$1.41
Discontinued operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	($0.01)		$0		($0.01)		$0		$0	($0.02)	($0.01)
Basic earnings per share	'	'	$0.20	$0.33	$0.35	$0.36	$0.52		$0.37		$0.27		$0.31		$1.24	$1.47	$1.40
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'		'		'		'		'	'	'
Continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	$0.52		$0.37		$0.27		$0.31		$1.22	$1.47	$1.38
Discontinued operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	($0.01)		$0		($0.01)		$0		$0	($0.02)	($0.01)
Diluted earnings per share	'	'	$0.20	$0.32	$0.35	$0.35	$0.52		$0.37		$0.27		$0.31		$1.22	$1.45	$1.38
Litigation settlement payment	$39,000,000	$3,000,000	'	'	'	'	'		'		'		'		'	'	'
[1]	Certain expenses have been reclassified to conform to the presentation for the quarterly data of 2013.