Operating Segments and Related Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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)