<PAGE> 1
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, DC  20549

                                   FORM 10-Q

                  Quarterly Report under Section 13 or 15 (d)

                    of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the three months ended January 31, 1998      Commission file number 0-13880

                        ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        Missouri                                         43-1313242
(State of Incorporation)                    (IRS Employer Identification Number)

1270 North Price Road, St. Louis, Missouri                       63132
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number including area code:  (314)  993-5880

      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.  Yes  X      No
                                                    ---        ---

      The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock, $.01 par value,
outstanding at February 28, 1998 was 3,160,669.



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<TABLE>
                                ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.

                                              INDEX
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Page
<S>                                                                                           <C>
Part I - Financial Information
   Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited)

      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 1998 and
      October 31, 1997                                                                         3

      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended
      January 31, 1998 and 1997                                                                4

      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months
      ended January 31, 1998 and 1997                                                          5

      Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements                                     6

   Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
        Condition and Results of Operations                                                    8

Part II - Other Information

   Items 1-6                                                                                  10

Signatures                                                                                    11

Exhibits                                                                                      12
</TABLE>


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<TABLE>
                                ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.

                             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<CAPTION>
                                                                          January 31        October 31
                                                                             1998              1997
                                                                         -----------        ----------
                                                                         (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                      <C>               <C>
                       ASSETS

Current Assets
    Cash and cash equivalents                                            $ 4,486,393       $ 8,313,160
    Accounts receivable                                                    4,646,402         3,398,973
    Contracts in process and inventories                                   7,167,724         7,072,377
    Other current assets                                                   1,427,854         1,423,620
                                                                         -----------       -----------
        Total Current Assets                                              17,728,373        20,208,130

Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated
    depreciation of $15,163,034 and $14,767,236                           14,167,373        14,490,049
Intangible assets                                                            756,788           825,406
Other assets                                                               1,341,174         1,560,469
                                                                         -----------       -----------
        Total Assets                                                     $33,993,708       $37,084,054
                                                                         ===========       ===========


         LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities
    Current maturities of long-term debt                                 $                 $    73,273
    Accounts payable                                                       3,962,909         5,596,760
    Other current liabilities                                              2,166,922         2,978,407
                                                                         -----------       -----------
        Total Current Liabilities                                          6,129,831         8,648,440

Long-term debt                                                                               1,194,433
Deferred income taxes                                                      2,642,295         2,642,295
ESOP guaranteed bank loan                                                    836,400           873,300

Shareholders' Equity
    Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 10,000,000
      shares authorized; 3,781,873 and 3,772,573 shares issued                37,819            37,726
    Additional paid-in capital                                             9,784,979         9,698,665
    Retained earnings                                                     18,902,241        18,026,195
                                                                         -----------       -----------
                                                                          28,725,039        27,762,586

    Less ESOP guaranteed bank loan                                           836,400           873,300
    Less treasury stock at cost, 619,358 and 598,858 shares                3,503,457         3,163,700
                                                                         -----------       -----------
                                                                          24,385,182        23,725,586
                                                                         -----------       -----------
         Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity                      $33,993,708       $37,084,054
                                                                         ===========       ===========

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>


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<TABLE>
                                  ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.
                            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                           (UNAUDITED)

<CAPTION>
                                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                                            January 31
                                                                   -----------------------------
                                                                      1998              1997
                                                                   -----------       -----------
<S>                                                                <C>               <C>
Net revenues                                                       $16,238,139       $20,730,840

Cost of revenues                                                    12,934,370        17,615,553
                                                                   -----------       -----------

Gross profit                                                         3,303,769         3,115,287

Selling, general and administrative expense                          1,844,460         1,744,628
                                                                   -----------       -----------

Income from operations                                               1,459,309         1,370,659

Interest expense (income)                                              (72,852)           37,828
                                                                   -----------       -----------

Income before income taxes                                           1,532,161         1,332,831

Income tax provision                                                   613,000           530,000
                                                                   -----------       -----------

Net income                                                         $   919,161       $   802,831
                                                                   ===========       ===========

Basic earnings per share                                                  $.29              $.25
                                                                   ===========       ===========

Diluted earnings per share                                                $.28              $.24
                                                                   ===========       ===========


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>


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<TABLE>


                                      ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.

                               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Three Months Ended
                                                                                   January 31
                                                                         -----------------------------
                                                                            1998              1997
                                                                         -----------       -----------
<S>                                                                    <C>               <C>
From operating activities:
   Net income                                                            $   919,161       $   802,831
   Depreciation and amortization                                             464,417           473,146
                                                                         -----------       -----------
      Cash provided (used) before changes in operating
        assets and liabilities                                             1,383,578         1,275,977
   Net (increase) decrease in non-cash current assets                     (1,347,010)        2,458,814
   Net increase (decrease) in non-cash current liabilities                (2,445,336)       (2,541,198)
   (Increase) decrease in other assets                                       219,295          (23,192)
                                                                         -----------       -----------

      Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities                 (2,189,473)        1,170,401
                                                                         -----------       -----------

From investing activities:
   Additions to property, plant and equipment                                (73,122)         (131,219)
                                                                         -----------       -----------

      Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                    (73,122)         (131,219)
                                                                         -----------       -----------


From financing activities:
   Payments of long-term debt                                             (1,267,706)         (197,396)
   Purchase of treasury stock                                               (339,758)         (205,255)
   Exercise of stock options                                                  86,407           312,372
   Cash dividends                                                            (43,115)          (37,019)
                                                                         -----------       -----------

      Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities                 (1,564,172)         (127,298)
                                                                         -----------       -----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                      (3,826,767)          911,884

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                           8,313,160         1,415,773
                                                                         -----------       -----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                               $ 4,486,393       $ 2,327,657
                                                                         ===========       ===========

See notes to condenses consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>


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                       ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.

                        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                       FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
                               JANUARY 31, 1998

NOTE A - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

      The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been
prepared by the Company without audit.  In the opinion of management, all
adjustments (including normal recurring accruals)  considered necessary for a
fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the three month
period ended January 31, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the results
to be expected for the entire fiscal year.

      The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to
Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include
all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted
accounting principles for complete financial statements.  For further
information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes
thereto included in the Company's annual report to shareholders for the year
ended October 31, 1997.

NOTE B - EARNINGS PER SHARE

      Basic earnings per share for the three months ended January 31, 1998
and 1997 is based on average basic common shares outstanding of 3,174,755 and
3,182,114, respectively.  Diluted earnings per share for the three months
ended January 31, 1998 and 1997 is based on average diluted common shares
outstanding of 3,311,577 and 3,309,956, respectively.

NOTE C - CONTRACTS IN PROCESS AND INVENTORIES

      Contracts in process and inventories of Engineered Air Systems, Inc.
represent accumulated contract costs, estimated earnings thereon based upon
the percentage of completion method and contract inventories reduced by the
contract value of delivered items.  Inventories of Engineered Specialty
Plastics, Inc. are valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in,
first-out method.  Contracts in process and inventories are comprised of the
following:


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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          January 31, 1998   October 31, 1997
                                                          ----------------   ----------------
<S>                                                           <C>               <C>
Raw materials                                                 $1,853,363        $1,535,860
Work-in-process                                                  114,449           167,043
Finished goods                                                   963,660           804,956
Inventories substantially applicable to
  government contracts in process, less
  progress payments of $10,811,121 and
  $9,333,930                                                   4,236,252         4,564,518
                                                              ----------        ----------
                                                              $7,167,724        $7,072,377
                                                              ==========        ==========
</TABLE>

NOTE D - SUBSEQUENT EVENT

      On February 9, 1998, the Company agreed to acquire substantially all of
the net assets of Nuclear Cooling, Inc., d/b/a/ Marlo Coil, a manufacturer of
heat transfer and air movement equipment used in commercial, industrial, U.S.
Navy and OEM markets.  This transaction was completed on February 20, 1998.
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, sales of Marlo Coil were
approximately $25.8 million and assets, which consist primarily of
manufacturing facilities and working capital, were $11.5 million.  The
purchase price of $25.3 million was financed with $2.8 million of available
cash resources and bank borrowings of  $22.5 million.  Further details of the
transaction will be provided in Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.


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<PAGE> 8

                       ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.

                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
               OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

      Revenues decreased 22% in the first quarter of 1998 to $16.2 million
from $20.7 million in the first quarter of 1997.  The decrease in revenues
was a result of lower shipments of production items at Engineered Air
Systems, Inc. (Engineered Air) as several major contracts, primarily the
Chemical/Biological Protected Shelter System (CBPSS) and the
Chemically/Biologically Hardened Air Mangement Plant (CHAMP), are in the
engineering and development phases.  Also contributing to the revenue
decrease was a reduction in shipments of houseware products at Engineered
Specialty Plastics, Inc. (ESP) in the months of November and December 1997.
(However, by the end of the quarter, ESP sales were exceeding 1997 peak
levels).

      In spite of the decrease in the net revenues, gross profit increased $
0.2 million, or 6%, over that for the comparable 1997 period reflecting a
significant margin expansion at both Engineered Air and at ESP.  The gross
margin for the first quarter of 1998 was 20.3% as compared to 15.0% for the
first quarter of 1997.  (The gross margin for the preceding quarter ended
October 31, 1997 was 18.5%).  This margin increase was due to a more
profitable mix of contracts and the impact of favorable contract cost
experience at Engineered Air, and the impact of targeted cost reductions
at ESP.

      Selling, general and administrative expense was $1.84 million and $1.74
million in the first quarters of 1998 and 1997, respectively.  As a percent
of net revenues, selling, general and administrative expense increased from
8.4% in 1997 to 11.3% in 1998 as a result of the decrease in consolidated
revenues.

      Interest expense decreased $111,000 in the first quarter of 1998 as
compared with the first quarter of 1997.  This was the result of higher
average cash balances and lower debt levels during the first quarter of 1998.
In this regard, the Company retired its remaining term debt in January 1998.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

      At January 31, 1998, the Company's working capital and ratio of current
assets to current liabilities were $11.6 million and 2.89 to 1 as compared to
$11.6 million and 2.34 to 1 at October 31, 1997 .  As of January 31, 1998,
the Company had $6.4 million of unused credit related to its existing loan
agreement.


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BUSINESS AND MARKET CONSIDERATIONS

      As of January 31, 1998 , Engineered Air's funded backlog of defense
orders was $37 million compared to $77 million a year ago.  Options to
existing contracts totaled approximately $152 million as of the end of the
first quarter compared to $154 million in the prior year.

      Historically, the Company has been heavily dependent on the U.S.
government for business.  Approximately 70% of consolidated net revenues for
the three months ended January 31, 1998 were derived from the U.S. government
and its agencies.  The Company began a plan of diversification in 1993 with
the acquisition of ESP.  This acquisition provided expansion into the
commercial marketplace.  As indicated in Note D, the Company acquired
substantially all of the net assets of Nuclear Cooling, Inc., d/b/a Marlo
Coil on February 20, 1998.  Management is continuing to pursue new
acquisitions, primarily within the defense industry.


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                                    PART II
                               OTHER INFORMATION

Items 1-5 Not applicable.

Item 6   (a) Exhibits

                4. (i)     Registration Statement Number 33-14504 on Form S-8
                           dated May 22, 1987 for the registration of
                           340,000 shares of Engineered Support Systems,
                           Inc. common stock, $.01 par value, pursuant to
                           the Amended and Restated Engineered Air
                           Systems, Inc. Employee Equity Plan, is
                           incorporated herein by reference.

                   (ii)    Registration Statement Number 33-77338 on Form S-8
                           dated March 25, 1994 for the registration of
                           150,000 shares of Engineered Support Systems,
                           Inc. common stock, $.01 par value, pursuant to
                           the Engineered Support Systems, Inc. Inc. 1993
                           Stock Option Plan, is incorporated herein by
                           reference.

                   (iii)   Registration Statement Number 333-27695 on Form S-8
                           dated May 23, 1997 for the registration of
                           50,000 shares of Engineered Support Systems,
                           Inc. common stock, $.01 par value, pursuant to
                           the Engineered Support Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock
                           Option Plan for Non-employee Directors, is
                           incorporated herein by reference.

               11. Statement Re:  Computation of Earnings Per Share.

               27. Statement Re:  Summary Financial Information

         (b)   No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the three months
               ended January 31, 1998.


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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.




                                    ENGINEERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INC.

Date:  March 6, 1998                By:    Michael F. Shanahan Sr.
     -----------------------           --------------------------------
                                           Michael F. Shanahan Sr.
                                      Chairman of the Board, President
                                         and Chief Executive Officer


Date:  March 6, 1998                By:      Gary C. Gerhardt
     -----------------------           --------------------------------
                                             Gary C. Gerhardt
                                       Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer


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