Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	$ 405,212	$ 371,327	[1]	$ 391,554	[1]	$ 375,969	[1]	$ 437,509	[1]	$ 332,497	$ 331,133	$ 287,298	$ 1,544,062	$ 1,388,437	[2]	$ 1,147,087
Revenue - Intersegments													0	0	[2]	0
Earnings (loss) from operations													313,195	360,311	[2]	347,287
Thermal Vision and Measurement
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers													660,256	574,852	[2]	491,805
Revenue - Intersegments													18,553	16,670	[2]	13,202
Earnings (loss) from operations													194,674	163,664	[2]	122,219
Raymarine
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers													171,489	104,089	[2]	0
Revenue - Intersegments													7	0	[2]	0
Earnings (loss) from operations													11,855	8,284	[2]	0
Surveillance
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers													577,552	671,250	[2]	655,282
Revenue - Intersegments													32,266	28,284	[2]	28,412
Earnings (loss) from operations													208,510	256,208	[2]	286,361
Detection
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers													79,918	23,554	[2]	0
Revenue - Intersegments													3,394	0	[2]	0
Earnings (loss) from operations													(5,568)	(2,541)	[2]	0
Integrated Systems
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers													54,847	14,692	[2]	0
Revenue - Intersegments													6,639	0	[2]	0
Earnings (loss) from operations													1,659	32	[2]	0
Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - Intersegments													60,859	44,954	[2]	41,614
Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from operations													$ (97,935)	$ (65,336)	[2]	$ (61,293)

[1] Amounts for the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first three quarters of 2011 have been adjusted for the reclassification of certain discontinued operations to continuing operations.

[2] Amounts have been adjusted for the reclassification of certain discontinued operations to continuing operations.