Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 575,701us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 564,306us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill from Acquisitions		4,864us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Currency translation adjustments	(21,411)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments	6,531us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Goodwill, Other Changes	(955)us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges
Ending Balance	553,335us-gaap_Goodwill	575,701us-gaap_Goodwill
Instruments
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	163,995
Currency translation adjustments	(8,468)
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
Ending Balance	155,527
OEM & Emerging Markets
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	92,166
Currency translation adjustments	(4,683)
Goodwill, Other Changes	(955)
Ending Balance	86,528
Maritime
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	114,419
Currency translation adjustments	(4,439)
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
Ending Balance	109,980
Security
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	48,199
Currency translation adjustments	(2,489)
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
Ending Balance	45,710
Surveillance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	108,693
Currency translation adjustments	(1,266)
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
Ending Balance	107,427
Detection
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	48,229
Currency translation adjustments	(66)
Goodwill, Other Changes	0
Ending Balance	48,163
Marine & Remote Sensing Solutions
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill from Acquisitions		2,463
DigitalOptics Charlotte
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill from Acquisitions		$ 2,401

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14024403&loc=d3e13816-109267

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+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

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+ References

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

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Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

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

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