Teledyne FLIR Defense awarded $74 million contract to modernize Coast Guard surveillance

Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has been awarded a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $74.2 million to provide modernized imaging surveillance systems to the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

FLIR Defense will deliver more than 125 Electro-Optic Sensor System-Modernized (ESS-M) systems for use on USCG rotary wing aircraft, specifically the MH-60 and MH-65. The advanced ESS-M platform features a full-HD sensor suite and updated user interfaces, as well as advanced processing capabilities and software enhancements that will support future growth.

The ESS-M systems provide operators with high-definition daylight, low light, and infrared imagery and will be used in support of all Coast Guard missions, with an emphasis on search and rescue, living marine resources, and law enforcement. The new technology also will augment coastal security, drug and migrant interdiction, ports and waterways protection, and other Coast Guard rapid response needs.

Teledyne FLIR Defense has been delivering and supporting legacy ESS systems for USCG medium- and short-range recovery aircraft since 2005.

“The significant updates through ESS-M will enable the U.S. Coast Guard to stay on technology’s cutting edge while conducting its wide range of key maritime operations,” says Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “We’re proud to extend our history of support and look forward to building our relationship across all missions areas.”

Deliveries will begin in Q4-2025.