FLIR Systems Announces Initial Flight Test of Its BRITE Star(R) II on Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV

FLIR Systems Announces Initial Flight Test of Its BRITE Star® II on Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV

PORTLAND, OR–(EMWNews – August 20, 2008) – FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) announced

today the completion of the initial flight test of its BRITE Star® II on

Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B First Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV). The BRITE Star® II is the latest

generation of the combat-proven, long-range BRITE Star® multi-sensor

target designation system.

The flight test represents a major milestone for the VTUAV program. The

Navy plans to conduct Technical Evaluation of the Fire Scout in early 2009

and will conduct Operational Evaluation (OpEval) in the summer 2009. The

Fire Scout will reach initial Operating Capability soon after OpEval in

2009.

“This important milestone demonstrates FLIR’s position as a leading,

world-class supplier of laser designation technologies for Unmanned Aerial

Vehicle applications,” said Earl R. Lewis, President and CEO of FLIR

Systems, Inc. “We are pleased Northrop Grumman has chosen FLIR products for

this critical platform.”

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this release by Earl R. Lewis, and the other statements

in this release about the initial flight test 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 deliveries

under the program 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 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.