<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM INTERIM
CONDENSED CONSOLIATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q COMMUNICATIONS & POWER
INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED APRIL 4, 1997.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001000564
<NAME> COMMUNICATIONS & POWER INDUSTRIES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-03-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-04-1997
<CASH>                                           1,386
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