<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY OF
PARAVANT INC. AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND THE RELATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND 1997
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                          <C>              <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                YEAR             YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            SEP-30-1998      SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                               OCT-1-1997       OCT-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1998      SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                             1,187,788        1,612,627
<SECURITIES>                                               0                0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      4,239,453        4,252,533
<ALLOWANCES>                                          88,993          141,497
<INVENTORY>                                        3,160,573        3,461,773
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   9,881,729        9,709,284
<PP&E>                                             2,058,944        1,776,376
<DEPRECIATION>                                       819,764          861,937
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                    12,695,577       11,270,100
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              2,225,683        2,901,268
<BONDS>                                                    0            9,147
<COMMON>                                             125,157          119,905
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0                0
<PREFERRED>                                                0                0
<OTHER-SE>                                        10,110,599        8,089,608
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                      12,695,577       11,270,100
<SALES>                                           15,507,727       13,209,542
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                  15,507,727       13,209,542
<CGS>                                              7,606,874        6,774,077
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      7,606,874        6,774,077
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   5,776,312        4,531,857
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      22,538           97,265
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    19,954          101,262
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    2,209,635        1,736,020
<INCOME-TAX>                                         750,038          594,229
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                1,459,597        1,141,791
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0                0
<CHANGES>                                                  0                0
<NET-INCOME>                                       1,459,597        1,141,791
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          0.184            0.143
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0.144            0.093
        


</TABLE>