DBMIBS 2026: FLIR M460LRF

by Ben Stein · March 3, 2026

The final installment of my DBMIBS 2026 visits the FLIR booth to see what’s new with them. FLIR is showing off the M460LRF AI-powered, multi-spectral, high-resolution thermal, and 4K camera system with a laser range finder and laser illuminator. How’s that for a mouthful? The length of the description gives a hint to just how much technology FLIR has packed into this camera.

With a price tag in the neighborhood of $150,000, this is not likely to be a casual purchase. It’s also not likely to find it’s way onto too many small boats that don’t have a law enforcement or SAR logo on the side of them. But, the FLIR M460 is one seriously impressive camera.

Let’s start with a list of what all the camera offers. There are two cameras, the first a 4k, 0.03 lux visible light camera with a 25x optical zoom and a further 12x digital zoom. The thermal camera is a 640×512 pixel VOx Microbolometer sensor running at 30hz with a 5.4x optical zoom and and a further 4x digital zoom. The cameras also come equipped with a laser spotlight offering a 2.2-degree beam at 1,000 lumens with a maximum illumination range of 1 kilometer. The laser range finder is an option that adds the ability to measure range and bearing to a target up to 12 kilometers away. As the first video above demonstrates, the camera features three-axis stabilization to deliver smooth video on target, even from the deck of a pitching boat. Lastly, the camera’s built-in AI processor detects, identifies, and tracks targets on the water.

M460LRF on the water

I had the opportunity to get out on the intracoastal on a FLIR/Raymarine demo boat equipped with an M460LRF. Unfortunately, I didn’t get great video of the camera working its magic. Frankly, I got sucked into seeing what the camera could do and recorded pretty terrible video. However, the clip above shows the job the system does of tracking, identifying, and measuring distance to a target. I have a FLIR M364C on Panboat and can tell you the tracking and stabilization on the M460LRF is leagues better.

There’s no doubt, the M460 isn’t going to be a volume leader for FLIR. However, I’m told they are selling very well and all the early production has been sold. Although at a price point foreign to many of us, this is a serious tool capable of doing serious work. I hope that if I’m ever in need of SAR services, the boats coming to look for me are equipped with one of these.