<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS DETECTION TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 12/30/95 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-30-1995 <CASH> 1,282 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,135 <ALLOWANCES> 516 <INVENTORY> 8,991 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 17,782 <PP&E> 4,874 <DEPRECIATION> 2,644 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 20,322 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,509 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,000 <OTHER-SE> 12,773 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 20,322 <SALES> 18,457 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 27,954 <CGS> 9,895 <TOTAL-COSTS> 15,236 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,741 <LOSS-PROVISION> 98 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,418 <INCOME-TAX> 910 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,508 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,508 <EPS-PRIMARY> .15 <EPS-DILUTED> 0