Demand picking up for electro-optical sensors for unmanned aerial vehicle applications, FLIR says

WILSONVILLE, Ore., 21 Feb. 2011.Electro-optical sensor designer FLIR Systems Inc. in Wilsonville, Ore., says demand is picking up for sensors intended for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various sizes. "With an increased focus on taking warfighters out of harm's way, we expect the role of unmanned systems to have an amplified presence going forward," says Bill Sundermeier, president of the FLIR Government Systems division.

Since the beginning of 2011, FLIR (NASDAQ: FLIR) has received orders for more than 130 airborne systems for a variety of applications and platforms in the Americas, the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East, and throughout Europe, company officials say. Demand is particularly strong in the UAV sensors market for the FLIR Cobalt, Star SAFIRE, and TALON classes of stabilized multi-sensor airborne systems, company officials say.

FLIR Systems is under contract for the Cobalt 190 and Star SAFIRE 230HD sensors, which are being integrated onto UAVs for missions that include reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting.

For more information contact FLIR Systems online at www.flir.com.