EXHIBIT NO. 23(A)

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent  to the incorporation by reference in the Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration  Statement  (Form  S-8/A, No. 33-55454) and related Prospectus
pertaining  to  the amendments to the  Nichols  Research  Corporation  1991
Stock  Option  Plan  of our  report dated October 9, 1996, with respect  to
the financial statements  of Nichols  Research  Corporation incorporated by
reference in its  Annual Report  (Form  10-K) for the year ended August 31,
1996, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                        Ernst & Young LLP

Birmingham, Alabama
May 28, 1997