FLIR Systems Announces Orders of $18.4 Million for H-60 Black Hawk Operations


PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - April 17, 2008) - FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced today that it has received two contract awards for a total of $18.4 million for its Star SAFIRE® class stabilized, multi-sensor systems to be used on H-60 Black Hawk helicopters. One of the orders represents a follow-on contract in support of the United Arab Emirates GHQ, while the other order is in support of the U.S. Army Black Hawk operations. The Star SAFIRE® systems were chosen in part due to their environmentally rugged design, a characteristic they share with the H-60 Black Hawks.

Including these orders, FLIR will have delivered over 200 systems in the Star SAFIRE® product line for Black Hawk operations. These systems are used by the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and other U.S. Government agencies, as well as by several other nations around the world.

Work on the delivery orders will begin in July and is expected to be completed by year end. This work will be performed in FLIR's Portland, Oregon facility.

"These contracts demonstrate the value of our systems to support the wide-range of missions of the Black Hawk helicopter, one of the world's preeminent combat and support helicopters. We are pleased that FLIR has once again been chosen for installation on this widely used platform," said Earl R. Lewis, President and CEO of FLIR Systems, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release by Earl R. Lewis and the other statements in this release about the orders described above, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the following: the ability to manufacture and deliver the systems referenced in this release, changes in demand for the Company's products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries under the agreements discussed above, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacity, the ability of the Company to manufacture and ship products in the time period required, actual purchases under agreements, the Company's continuing compliance with US export control laws and regulations, the timely receipt of export licenses for international shipments, the continuing eligibility of the Company to act as a federal contractor, the amount and availability of appropriated government procurement funds and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet service providers.

About FLIR Systems

FLIR Systems, Inc. is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of thermal imaging and stabilized camera systems for a wide variety of thermography and imaging applications including condition monitoring, research and development, manufacturing process control, airborne observation and broadcast, search and rescue, drug interdiction, surveillance and reconnaissance, navigation safety, border and maritime patrol, environmental monitoring and ground-based security. Visit the Company's web site at www.FLIR.com.

Contact Information: Company contact: Tony Trunzo FLIR Systems, Inc. (503) 498-3547 www.flir.com