Tour at Goleta Facility Showcases American-Made Infrared Technology for Defense and Safety Applications
On July 29, 2025, Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA24) visited Teledyne FLIR OEM’s facility in Goleta, California. The site, which employs 467 people, plays a major role in advancing thermal imaging solutions for defense, transportation, and uncrewed systems.
Teledyne FLIR OEM is part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY) and is a global supplier of thermal imaging modules and software tools. The visit highlighted the company’s leadership in U.S.-based production of thermal infrared technology.
Supporting Innovation in Critical Industries
Congressman Carbajal, a member of both the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, toured the facility with staff. He observed how thermal imaging is used to improve decision-making across industries, from battlefield operations to vehicle safety.
“Thermal imaging has long provided U.S. servicemembers and our allies with a decisive advantage on the battlefield,” said Congressman Carbajal. “I’m proud this cutting-edge technology is being produced right here in Goleta. I will continue to advocate for policies that ensure our country maintains its technological lead in critical areas like thermal imaging.”
Advancing U.S. Manufacturing and Autonomy
Paul Clayton, president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR OEM, said the company is committed to innovation and job creation.
“Our growing Teledyne FLIR OEM Goleta plant employs 467 professionals, providing high-quality, high-tech jobs across design, manufacturing, and testing,” said Clayton. “We were pleased to show Congressman Carbajal how our employees are providing unmatched thermal imaging production agility and reliability, innovative integrated solutions, and flexible development collaboration, right here in the U.S.”
Teledyne FLIR OEM supports vertical integration—combining thermal imaging sensors, zoom lenses, and embedded Prism™ software. This combination allows for AI-powered infrared imaging at the edge, helping customers across defense and commercial sectors achieve faster development and deployment timelines.
A Trusted U.S. Defense Technology Supplier
The company is the largest-volume supplier of NDAA-compliant and ITAR-free infrared imaging technology for OEMs. With more than 45 years as a U.S.-based Other Transaction Authority (OTA)-friendly, nontraditional defense contractor, Teledyne FLIR OEM is well-positioned to support rapid, high-volume production needs.
Its technologies are used in military operations, autonomous vehicle safety systems, and many other applications where thermal imaging provides critical data for better decisions.
To learn more about Teledyne FLIR OEM and its development tools, visit https://oem.flir.com.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
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