FLIR receives order for Forward Observer thermal imaging systems

DECEMBER 23--FLIR Systems Inc. (Portland, OR;www.FLIR.com) has received a contract, valued at approximately $17 million, for the delivery of thermal imaging systems to be integrated into a Forward Observer System (FOS) for the Norwegian and Swedish armed forces. Deliveries will start in 2004 and run for several years. FLIR won the order from Simrad Optronics, a Norwegian company that is the prime contractor and integrator for the project. This contract award reflects the company's strategy to compete for, and win, longer-term program business.

The FOS incorporates FLIR's thermal imager, a laser rangefinder, GPS, goniometer, tripod, and, in some systems, a north-seeking gyro. The FOS is used as a forward observer and target-identification and location system for day and night operations. FLIR's thermal imager is fully integrated into the system and can also be used separately as a stand-alone hand-held unit. The thermal imagers provided by FLIR use state-of-the-art quantum-well infrared photodetector infrared technology, which has been developed by FLIR's Sweden Imaging division.