<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS OF AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997
and DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR
THE YEAR THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000
       
<S>                                        <C>             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              YEAR            YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997     DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997     JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997     DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                             573               0 
<SECURITIES>                                         0               0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,868               0 
<ALLOWANCES>                                       265               0 
<INVENTORY>                                     26,003               0 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                45,156               0 
<PP&E>                                          21,879               0 
<DEPRECIATION>                                   8,502               0 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  78,694               0 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           20,209               0 
<BONDS>                                          8,629               0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0               0 
<PREFERRED>                                          0               0 
<COMMON>                                            41               0 
<OTHER-SE>                                      47,276               0 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    78,694               0 
<SALES>                                        117,294          82,420 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               117,294          82,420 
<CGS>                                           81,196          58,247 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   81,196          58,247 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                23,975          17,889 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   166              50 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,633           2,343 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,324           3,891 
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,762           1,549 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,562           2,342 
<DISCONTINUED>                                    (319)            513 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   (109)           (173)
<CHANGES>                                            0               0 
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,134           2,682 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.53<F1>        0.72<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.43<F1>        0.68<F1>

<FN>
<F1> Earnings per share has been preparesd in accordance with SFAS No. 128.
Basic and diluted EPS have been entered in place of primary and fully diluted,
respectively.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>