<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE SHEET OF AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES,  INC. AS OF DECEMBER 31,
     1997 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
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                             575
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   18,988
<ALLOWANCES>                                       345
<INVENTORY>                                     29,324
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                49,553
<PP&E>                                          25,480
<DEPRECIATION>                                  10,406
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  78,999
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           20,514
<BONDS>                                          8,629
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                            41
<OTHER-SE>                                      47,276
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    78,999
<SALES>                                        123,816
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               123,816
<CGS>                                           89,819
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   89,819
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                21,971
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   166
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,633
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,227
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,740
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              5,487
<DISCONTINUED>                                    (244)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   (109)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,134
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.53<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.43<F1>
        

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