<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS INC.'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JULY 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUL-03-1999 <CASH> 223,949 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 490,465 <ALLOWANCES> 32,389 <INVENTORY> 348,282 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,381,290 <PP&E> 420,592 <DEPRECIATION> 138,339 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,854,263 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 845,018 <BONDS> 613,444 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,288 <OTHER-SE> 916,062 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,854,263 <SALES> 999,213 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 999,213 <CGS> 541,876 <TOTAL-COSTS> 541,876 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 76,840 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,681 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 25,656 <INCOME-PRETAX> 72,360 <INCOME-TAX> 33,221 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 31,434 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 31,434 <EPS-BASIC> 0.26 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.24