<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 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 44,700 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 51,516 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 107,329 <PP&E> 82,358 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 228,754 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 75,092 <BONDS> 132,750 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 16,151 <PREFERRED> 1 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 4,760 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 228,754 <SALES> 119,191 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 119,191 <CGS> 88,562 <TOTAL-COSTS> 88,562 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,724 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,492 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,770 <INCOME-TAX> 195 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,575 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,575 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0