UNITED STATES
             SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                  Washington, D.C. 20549

                         FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE  ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended  September 30, 1996
  
[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF 
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from__________ to ________________     

Commission File Number:  0-7445
									     
                    DATRON SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
---------------------------------------------------------------------          
       (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

			  Delaware                               95-2582922
-------------------------------   -----------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of              (I.R.S.
incorporation or organization)     Employer Identification No.)


 304 Enterprise Street, Escondido, California       92029-1297
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)            (zip code)

									
                            (619) 747-3734
--------------------------------------------------------------------
      (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


---------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name, former address and formal fiscal year, if changed 
since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all 
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or 
for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for 
the past 90 days.
							                                   [ X ]   Yes    [   ]   No

           APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
             PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all 
documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the 
distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.  

                                          [   ]   Yes     [   ]   No

               APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's 
classes of common stock as of the latest 
practicable date.

          As of October 25, 1996, the Registrant had only one class 
          of common stock, par value $0.01, of which there were 2,627,192 
          shares outstanding.
										
<PAGE>1

                    	     PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    Financial Statements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
		                   DATRON SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
		                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
			                          (In Thousands)
						                                             Sept 30,   March 31
						                                               1996       1996
                                                   --------   --------
<S>                                                <C>         <C>
ASSETS                                             (Unaudited)
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                             $306     $1,393
  Accounts receivable, net                            18,475     15,017
  Inventories                                         15,291     15,808
  Deferred income taxes                                2,602      2,602
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets              774      2,478
						                                               --------   --------
      Total current assets                            37,448     37,298
Property, plant and equipment, net                    12,739     13,835
Goodwill, net                                          5,953      6,056
Investment                                             1,113        890
Other assets                                             336        380
						                                              --------   --------
      Total assets                                   $57,589    $58,459
						                                              ========   ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                                    $8,078     $8,490
  Accrued expenses                                     3,373      5,405
  Customer advances                                    4,099      3,693
  Income taxes payable                                   361        240
  Current portion of restructuring reserve             1,059      1,428
						                                              --------   --------
      Total current liabilities                       16,970     19,256
Long-term debt                                         6,600      5,200
Restructuring reserve                                    631      1,063
Deferred income taxes                                  1,069      1,069
						                                              --------   --------
      Total liabilities                               25,270     26,588
						                                              --------   --------
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock -- par value $0.01; authorized
    2,000,000 shares, none issued or outstanding         ---        ---
  Common stock -- par value $0.01; authorized
    10,000,000 shares, 3,063,937 shares issued
    in September and March                                31         31
  Additional paid-in capital                          10,645     10,568
  Retained earnings                                   24,333     24,149
  Treasury stock, at cost; 436,745 and 459,745
    shares in September and March, respectively       (2,446)    (2,633)
  Stock option plan and stock purchase plan notes rec   (244)      (244)
						                                               --------   --------
      Total stockholders' equity                      32,319     31,871
						                                               --------   --------
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity     $57,589    $58,459
						                                               ========   ========
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 	    		 DATRON SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
	             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
		                (In thousands, except per-share amounts)


                                Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended
				                              September 30,         September 30,
				                              1996     1995         1996     1995
                           				--------- --------    --------- --------

<S>                              <C>      <C>          <C>      <C>
Net sales                        $14,620  $15,660      $27,077  $30,016
Cost of sales                     10,711   10,730       19,712   19,726
                           				--------- --------    --------- --------
Gross profit                       3,909    4,930        7,365   10,290

Selling, general and admin.        2,991    3,709        5,722    7,403
Research and development             482      704        1,040    1,699
                             			--------- --------    -------- ---------
Operating income                     436      517          603    1,188

Interest expense                    (177)     (21)        (297)     (36)
Interest income                        0        6            3       19
				                            --------- -------     -------- --------
Income before income taxes           259      502          309    1,171

Income taxes                         104      175          125      429
                           				 -------- --------      ------- --------

Net income                          $155     $327         $184     $742
                           				========= ========    ========= ========

Net income per share               $0.06    $0.12        $0.07    $0.28
                            			========= ========     ======== ========

Weighted average number of
  common and common equivalent
  shares outstanding               2,681    2,663        2,687    2,656
                           				========= ========     ======== ========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    		      DATRON SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
            	     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
			                              (In thousands)

						                                               Six Months Ended
							                                                 September 30,
						                                                 1996       1995
                                         						    ---------  ---------
<S>                                                  <C>         <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income                                              $184       $742
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
  cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                      1,429      1,445
    Restructuring                                       (801)      (195)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable                             (3,458)    (2,343)
      Inventories                                        517     (2,062)
      Prepaid expenses and other assets                1,712        158
      Accounts payable and accrued expenses           (2,444)      (958)
      Customer advances                                  406       (295)
      Income taxes payable                               121       (340)
      Other liabilities                                  ---         22
                                                    ---------  ---------
Net cash used in operating activities                 (2,334)    (3,826)
                                                    ---------  ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property, plant and equipment              (194)      (862)
Purchase of investment                                  (223)       ---
                                                    ---------  ---------
Net cash used in investing activities                   (417)      (862)
                                                    ---------  ---------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Increase in long-term debt                             1,400      1,200
Stock options exercised                                  264        219
Purchase of treasury stock                               ---        (51)
Payment advanced against stock option
  plan note receivable                                   ---        (80)
                                                    ---------  ---------
Net cash provided by financing activities              1,664      1,288
                                                    ---------  ---------

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                 (1,087)    (3,400)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period       1,393      3,510
                                                    ---------  ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD              $306       $110
                                                    =========  =========

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>4
                       Datron Systems Incorporated
         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


1.      Basis of Presentation
        ---------------------       

The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein 
contain the accounts of Datron Systems Incorporated and its 
wholly owned subsidiaries (the Company") and have been prepared 
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities 
and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and footnote 
disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in 
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have 
been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. 
It is suggested that these financial statements be read in 
connection with the financial statements and notes thereto 
included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited 
financial statements contain all adjustments,consisting only of 
normal recurring adjustments, unless otherwise stated, which are 
necessary to present fairly its financial position at September 
30, 1996 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for 
the periods presented.  Results of operations for the periods 
presented herein are not necessarily indicative of what results 
will be for the entire fiscal year.  The balance sheet at March 
31, 1996 has been derived from audited financial statements.


2.      Income per Share
        ----------------

Shares used in computing income per share include the weighted 
average of common stock outstanding plus equivalent shares issuable 
under the Company's stock option plans.

3.      Accounts Receivable
        -------------------

At September 30, 1996 and March 31, 1996, accounts receivable 
were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           September 30,       March 31,
                                 1996            1996
                            ------------     ------------
 				
<S>                          <C>             <C>
Billed                       $11,503,000     $  6,858,000 
Unbilled                       7,118,000        8,406,000
                              ----------      ----------- 
Subtotal                      18,621,000       15,264,000 
Allowance for doubtful
 accounts                       (146,000)        (247,000)
                              ----------      -----------
Total                        $18,475,000      $15,017,000 
                             ===========      ===========
</TABLE>

4.      Inventories

At September 30, 1996 and March 31, 1996,  inventories were as 
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

		                    September 30,      March 31,
                         		1996            1996
                      -------------     ----------				
<S>                     <C>             <C>
Raw materials           $ 8,563,000     $ 7,487,000 
Work-in-process           4,570,000       5,231,000 
Finished goods            2,158,000       3,090,000 
                        -----------     -----------				
Total                   $15,291,000     $15,808,000 
                        ===========     ===========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>5

5.      Property, Plant and Equipment
        -----------------------------
At September 30, 1996 and March 31, 1996, property, plant and 
equipment was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              September 30,       March 31,
		                                  1996           1996
                              -------------     -----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>
Land and buildings              $ 8,496,000     $ 8,479,000 
Machinery and equipment          13,971,000      13,658,000 
Furniture and office 
 equipment                        1,452,000       1,462,000 
Leasehold improvements              809,000         910,000 
Construction-in-process              45,000         183,000 
                                -----------     -----------
Subtotal                         24,773,000      24,692,000 
Accumulated depreciation and 
  amortization                  (12,034,000)    (10,857,000)
                                -----------     -----------
Total                           $12,739,000     $13,835,000 
                                ===========     =========== 				
</TABLE>				

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations.

Datron Systems Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries 
(the "Company") reports operations in two business segments:  
Communication Products and Services, and Antenna and Imaging 
Systems.  The Communication Products and Services business 
segment designs, manufactures and distributes high frequency and 
very high frequency radios and accessories for worldwide military 
and civilian purposes.  The Antenna and Imaging Systems business 
segment designs and manufactures specialized satellite 
communication systems, subsystems and antennas that are sold 
worldwide to commercial and governmental customers, including the 
U.S. Department of Defense.  This segment also sells remote 
sensing satellite earth stations.  In fiscal 1996, this segment 
introduced the DBS-3000, a mobile satellite television reception 
system for recreational vehicles and long-haul trucks.  This 
system is the Company's first consumer product.

This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 
and Results of Operations contains certain forward-looking 
statements.  Actual results could differ materially.  Reference 
is hereby made to the statement of Investment Considerations 
contained in Part I, Item 1 of the Company's Form 10-K, which is 
available from the Company upon request.

Results of Operations
---------------------
Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 1997 was $155,000, or 
$0.06 per share, compared with net income of $327,000, or $0.12 
per share, in the second quarter of fiscal 1996.  Net sales in 
the second quarter of fiscal 1997 were $14,620,000, a 7% decrease 
from second quarter net sales last fiscal year of $15,660,000.  
The decrease in sales was primarily due to lower sales of radio 
products and military antennas, partially offset by sales of new 
direct broadcast satellite (DBS) antenna products.  The decrease 
in net income resulted from lower gross profits on the lower 
sales, partially offset by lower selling, administrative and 
research and development expenses.

<PAGE>6
Net income for the six months ended September 30, 1996 was 
$184,000, or $0.07 per share, compared with net income of 
$742,000, or $0.28 per share, for the comparable period last 
fiscal year.  Net sales for the six months were $27,077,000, a 
10% decrease from net sales of $30,016,000 for the first six 
months last fiscal year.  The decrease in sales wa primarily due 
to lower sales of radio products, military antennas and remote 
sensing systems, partially offset by sales of new DBS antenna 
products.  The decrease in net income resulted from lower gross 
profits on the lower sales, partially offset by lower selling, 
administrative and research and development expenses.

Operating results for each business segment were as follows:

Communication Products and Services
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
		                  Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended
		                     September 30,          September 30,
                		    1996       1995       1996         1995
                 ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------						

<S>              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net sales        $5,243,000  $7,926,000  $9,316,000  $13,004,000
                 ==========  ==========  ==========  ===========
Gross profit     $1,416,000  $2,582,000  $2,778,000  $ 4,158,000
                 ==========  ==========  ==========  ===========
Operating income $  222,000  $  808,000  $  777,000  $ 1,006,000
                 ==========  ==========  ==========  ===========
</TABLE>

Sales of Communication Products and Services in the second 
quarter and in the first six months of fiscal 1997 were 34% lower 
and 28% lower, respectively, than they were in the comparable 
periods of fiscal 1996.  The decrease in sales was due to low 
order bookings for radio products during the two previous 
quarters.  Order bookings improved in the second quarter of 
fiscal 1997, but there can be no assurances that the improvement 
will continue in the third quarter.

Gross profit percentage on sales of Communication Products and 
Services was 27.0% in the second quarter of fiscal 1997 compared 
with 32.6% in the second quarter last fiscal year.  The decrease 
in the recent quarter was primarily due to higher labor and 
materials costs and to a less favorable product mix.  Gross 
profit for the first six months of fiscal 1997 was 29.8% of sales 
compared with 32.0% of sales for the first six months of fiscal 
1996 for the same reason.

Operating income percentage on sales of Communication Products 
and Services was 4.2% in the second quarter of fiscal 1997 
compared with 10.2% in the second quarter last fiscal year.  The 
decrease resulted primarily from lower gross profits, partially 
offset by lower selling and administrative expenses.  Operating 
income for the first six months of fiscal 1997 was 8.3% of sales 
compared with 7.7% of sales for the first six months of fiscal 
1996.  The increase was primarily due to lower selling and 
administrative expenses, partially offset by lower gross profits.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Antenna and Imaging Systems

	                     Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
	                        September 30,          September 30,
                     	1996         1995       1996        1995
							             ----------  ---------- ----------- -----------
<S>                 <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Net sales           $9,377,000  $7,734,000 $17,761,000 $17,012,000
                    ==========  ========== =========== ===========
Gross profit        $2,493,000  $2,348,000 $ 4,587,000 $ 6,132,000
                    ==========  ========== =========== ===========
Operating income    $  556,000  $   45,000 $   560,000 $   900,000
                    ==========  ========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>

Sales of Antenna and Imaging Systems products increased 21% in 
the second quarter of fiscal 1997 compared with the second 
quarter of fiscal 1996.  The increase was primarily due to sales 
of new DBS antenna products, partially offset by lower sales of 
military antennas.  Sales in the first six months of fiscal 1997 
were 4% higher than in the first six months of fiscal 1996.  The 
increase was primarily due to sales of new DBS antenna products, 
partially offset by lower sales of military antennas and remote sensing 
systems.

<PAGE>7

Gross profit percentage on sales of Antenna and Imaging Systems 
products was 26.6% in the second quarter of fiscal 1996 compared 
with 30.4% in the second quarter last fiscal year.  The decrease was 
primarily due to higher materials costs associated with start-up 
quantities of DBS antenna products and to higher manufacturing costs 
associated with a less favorable product mix.  Gross profit for the first 
six months of fiscal 1997 was 25.8% of sales compared with 36.0% of sales 
for the first six months of fiscal 1996 for the same reason.

Operating income percentage on sales of Antenna and Imaging Systems products 
was 5.9% in the second quarter of fiscal 1997 compared with 0.6% in the 
second quarter last fiscal year.  The increase resulted from lower selling, 
research and development and administrative expenses, partially offset by 
lower gross profits.  Operating income for the first six months of fiscal 
1997 was 3.2% of sales compared with 5.3% of sales for the first six months 
of fiscal 1996.  The decrease was primarily due to lower gross profits, 
partially offset by lower research and development, selling and 
administrative expenses.


Consolidated expenses were as follows:

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2,991,000 in 
the second quarter of fiscal 1997, a 19% decrease compared with 
second quarter of fiscal 1996 expenses of $3,709,000.  The 
decrease was due to lower selling and administrative expenses at 
both business segments.  Selling, general and administrative 
expenses for the first six months of fiscal 1997 were $5,722,000, 
a 23% decrease compared with first six months of fiscal 
1996 expenses of $7,403,000 for the same reason.  Cost reductions 
related to the Company's fourth quarter of fiscal 1996 
consolidation and restructuring as well as spending reductions in 
the first six months of fiscal 1997 at both business segments 
were responsible for most of the decrease.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $482,000 in the 
second quarter of fiscal 1997 compared with $704,000 in the 
second quarter last fiscal year.  The 32% decrease was due to 
significantly lower spending on development programs for mobile 
DBS antenna products and from the absence of spending on programs 
to develop remote sensing services for the agricultural 
community.  R&D expenses in the first six months of fiscal 1997 
were $1,040,000, a 39% decrease compared with first six months of 
fiscal 1996 expenses of $1,699,000 for the same reason.  In 
fiscal 1996, the Company significantly increased R&D spending to 
develop DBS antenna products.  Several of those products are now 
in production and although development of new DBS products and 
enhancements to existing products are ongoing, the level of R&D 
spending in fiscal 1997 is expected to be lower than it was in 
fiscal 1996.

Order backlog at September 30 was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           	1996       1995
			                                     -----------  -----------
<S>                                     <C>          <C>
Communication Products and Services     $ 4,519,000  $12,658,000
Antenna and Imaging Systems              18,589,000   19,211,000
                                        -----------  -----------
Total                                   $23,108,000  $31,869,000
                                        ===========  ===========
</TABLE>
The 64% decrease in Communication Products and Services backlog 
at September 30, 1996 was due to continued low order bookings.  
Although bookings in this business segment showed improvement 
during the second quarter of fiscal 1997 compared with the three 
previous quarters, there can be no assurances they will continue 
to improve.

<PAGE>8

The 3% decrease in Antenna and Imaging Systems backlog at 
September 30, 1996 was primarily due to lower order bookings for 
remote sensing systems, partially offset by orders for new DBS 
antenna products.  Although the Company expected orders for 
remote sensing systems during the first six months of fiscal 1997 
would be lower than they were for the comparable period in fiscal 
1996, it expected higher orders and sales for the new DBS-3000 
during this period.  The Company believes orders for the DBS-3000 
will improve with better dealer selection and training, and that 
changes being implemented within its distribution system will 
improve both DBS order bookings and sales by fiscal year end; 
however, there can be no assurances that the changes will have 
that effect.


Liquidity and Capital Resources
-------------------------------

At September 30, 1996, working capital was $20,478,000 compared with 
$18,042,000 at March 31, 1996, an increase of $2,436,000 or 14%.  Major 
changes affecting working capital during this period were the following:  
accounts receivable increased $3,458,000 primarily due to shipments of radio
products in September; inventories decreased $517,000 as declining radio 
products inventories were partially offset by increases in materials for 
DBS products; accounts payable and accrued expenses decreased $2,444,000; 
and prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased $1,712,000 
primarily due to collection of an income tax refund.  The Company's cash 
position at September 30, 1996 was $306,000 compared with $1,393,000 at 
March 31, 1996, a decrease of 78%.  At September 30, 1996, the Company had 
borrowed $6,600,000 in term debt from its bank to meet operating cash 
requirements.  These borrowings represented a 27% increase in term debt 
from the $5,200,000 of borrowings at March 31, 1996.

Capital equipment expenditures were $194,000 during the first six months of 
fiscal 1997 compared with $862,000 in the first six months last fiscal year.  
The decrease was primarily due to lower purchases of equipment for the 
Antenna and Imaging Systems business segment.

At September 30, 1996, the Company had a $19,500,000 committed revolving 
line of credit with its bank, of which up to $12,000,000 may be used for the 
issuance of letters of credit and up to $10,500,000 may be used for direct 
working capital advances provided that total credit extended does not exceed 
$19,500,000.  The Company believes that its existing working capital, 
anticipated future cash flows from operations and available credit with its 
bank are sufficient to finance presently planned capital and working capital 
requirements.


<PAGE>9
PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION


Item 2.  Changes in Securities.

Pursuant to a business loan agreement with a bank, the Company must comply 
with certain financial covenants.  The agreement also prohibits the Company 
from declaration or payment of dividends or other distributions on the 
Company's stock, except under certain conditions specified in the agreement.  
The Company is in compliance with both requirements.


Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On August 14, 1996, the Company held its annual meeting of stockholders, 
proxies for which were solicited pursuant to Regulation 14 under the Act.  
All existing directors were re-elected.


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)     Exhibits:  None

(b)     Reports on Form 8-K:

        No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter.

<PAGE>10

SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to 
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly 
authorized.

			
                               DATRON SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
			
			
			
Date:  October 28, 1996        By:  WILLIAM L. STEPHAN
			                               		Vice President and Chief 
			                                 Financial Officer
                                 			(Principal Financial and        
                                 		 Accounting Officer)