Actually they are something you can buy off the shelf.
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&safe=off&q=FLIR+infrared+camera&um=1&ie=UTF-8
They are not military products, but rather diagnostic tools but they still can’t be taken out of the country because they are covered under ITAR
Note the disclaimer.
FLIR PRODUCTS CAN NOT BE SOLD OUTSIDE THE US AND ITS TERRITORIES AND CAN NOT SHIP INTERNATIONALLY THROUGH A FREIGHT FORWARDER TO OVERSEAS APO OR FPO OR CANADA.
Most likely corporate espionage, take a few to reverse engineer, and begin marketing them for sale at lower prices. They can be made for a lot less than 5000 dollars.
Dear Santa,
Google “flir china” and see what you get. I’m sure that many of those made in China are “sold outside the US” but I guess that’s not what the dislaimer means. I doubt than anyone would have to have ten cameras taken to China to “reverse engineer.” The whole operation seems strange and expensive.