Operating Segments and Related Information Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	$ 348,583	$ 348,452
Revenue - Intersegments	0	0
Earnings (loss) from operations	69,130	68,296
Thermal Vision and Measurement
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	167,388	155,741
Revenue - Intersegments	2,963	5,048
Earnings (loss) from operations	39,949	39,341
Raymarine
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	44,401	46,604
Revenue - Intersegments	0	4
Earnings (loss) from operations	5,977	3,841
Surveillance
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	110,241	114,597
Revenue - Intersegments	5,790	4,903
Earnings (loss) from operations	34,954	34,901
Detection
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	12,547	19,352
Revenue - Intersegments	2,441	451
Earnings (loss) from operations	592	1,437
Integrated Systems
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	14,006	12,158
Revenue - Intersegments	308	574
Earnings (loss) from operations	179	(398)
Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - Intersegments	(11,502)	(10,980)
Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from operations	$ (12,521)	$ (10,826)

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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