Teledyne FLIR Wins $48 Million Deal for Bulgarian Stryker CBRN Sensors
Teledyne FLIR Defense has won a $48 million US Army contract to supply nuclear, biological and chemical reconnaissance sensor suites for Bulgaria’s Stryker vehicles. The award was reported on October 27 and is being made under a Foreign Military Sales agreement.
US Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, made the award. Ten of Bulgaria’s Stryker vehicles will receive the upgraded suites, the company said.
Bulgaria Gets CBRN Reconnaissance Strykers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customer | US Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, for Bulgaria |
| Contractor | Teledyne FLIR Defense |
| Value | $48 million |
| Route | Foreign Military Sales |
| Scope | CBRN reconnaissance sensor suite upgrades for 10 Stryker vehicles |
| Integration | At Teledyne FLIR facilities after vehicles reach Bulgaria |
| Duration | Through 2028, across several US facilities |
| Reported | October 27, 2026 |
Bulgaria is acquiring nearly 200 US-made Stryker armoured vehicles to replace Soviet-era tactical vehicles and to work more closely with NATO forces. The CBRN suite is the specialised end of that purchase, aimed at spotting hazards from a distance.
“The upgraded Stryker vehicles will provide Bulgaria with the most advanced mounted CBRN reconnaissance capabilities in Europe,” said JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne’s defense and aerospace group. That is the company’s own assessment.
What Is in the Sensor Suite
The suite detects chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats at standoff distance, according to Teledyne FLIR. A command-and-control system fuses data from the sensors and platforms and automates parts of the picture, so the crew sees one assessment rather than separate alarms.
| Element | Role |
|---|---|
| Autonomous sensors | Detect CBRN threats from a distance |
| Command-and-control system | Sensor fusion and automation across sensors and platforms |
| FLIR Defense R80D SkyRaider | Uncrewed aircraft carrying the sensor payload |
| MUVE B330 | Biological detection payload on the SkyRaider |
Two Bulgarian Stryker Contracts Compared
The award is the second Teledyne FLIR Stryker contract for Bulgaria this year. A January contract worth up to $32 million covers thermal imaging sights and radar systems that are meant to give crews 360-degree visibility and long-range threat detection.
| Contract | Value | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Up to $32 million | Thermal imaging sights and radar systems for the Stryker fleet |
| October 2026 | $48 million | NBCRV sensor suite upgrades for 10 vehicles |
For background on the vehicle itself, see our comparison of Boxer and Stryker 8×8 armoured vehicles.
The US Army Programme Behind It
Teledyne FLIR is the lead integrator for the US Army’s NBCRV sensor suite modernisation programme. After development and testing it began delivering upgraded suites to Army units in 2025. Since 2024 the company has received contract vehicles worth more than $240 million for the upgrade effort, it said.
Foreign Military Sales let Bulgaria buy the same configuration the US Army fields, which simplifies spares and training. That point is analysis rather than a company claim.
Teledyne Company Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Thousand Oaks, California |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Employees | About 15,800 (2025) |
| Revenue | About $6.12 billion (2025) |
| CEO | George C. Bobb III |
| Segments | Digital Imaging, Instrumentation, Engineered Systems, Aerospace and Defense Electronics |
| Teledyne FLIR | Acquired from FLIR Systems in a deal agreed in January 2021 for $8 billion |
Teledyne FLIR Bulgaria Stryker FAQ
How much is the contract worth?
$48 million, awarded by US Army Contracting Command under a Foreign Military Sales agreement.
How many vehicles are covered?
Ten Bulgarian Stryker vehicles will get the upgraded CBRN reconnaissance suites.
What does the suite include?
Autonomous sensors, a command-and-control system with sensor fusion, and the R80D SkyRaider uncrewed aircraft with a MUVE B330 biological detection payload.
Where will the work be done?
At Teledyne FLIR facilities in the US, with integration after the vehicles are delivered to Bulgaria. Work runs through 2028.
Is this Bulgaria’s only Teledyne FLIR Stryker contract?
No. A January contract worth up to $32 million covers thermal sights and radar for the fleet.
- Army Technology – “Teledyne FLIR wins $48m US Army contract for Bulgaria CBRN sensors” (October 27, 2026, reporting Teledyne FLIR Defense): army-technology.com
- Wikipedia – Teledyne Technologies (company data)
