<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND BALANCE SHEET AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) FORM 10-Q COMMUNICATIONS & POWER INDUSTRIES, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED APRIL 3, 1998 </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001000564 <NAME> COMMUNICATIONS & POWER INDUSTRIES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-02-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-04-1997 <PERIOD-END> APR-03-1998 <CASH> 327 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 47,730 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 53,405 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 109,992 <PP&E> 78,562 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 233,400 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 69,500 <BONDS> 129,137 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 19,075 <PREFERRED> 1 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 15,687 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 233,400 <SALES> 126,175 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 126,175 <CGS> 93,480 <TOTAL-COSTS> 93,480 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,719 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,121 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,194 <INCOME-TAX> 1,198 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,996 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,996 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0