<ARTICLE>           5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THERMOSPECTRA CORPORATION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED
JANUARY 2, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                  JAN-02-1999
<CASH>                                                 20,717
<SECURITIES>                                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                                          43,402
<ALLOWANCES>                                            2,386
<INVENTORY>                                            31,745
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      105,937
<PP&E>                                                 30,517
<DEPRECIATION>                                         13,526
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        249,882
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 108,189
<BONDS>                                                     0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                  153
<OTHER-SE>                                            130,682
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                          130,835
<SALES>                                               191,017
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      191,017
<CGS>                                                 110,915
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         110,915
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       16,298
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          689
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      4,334
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                         3,652
<INCOME-TAX>                                            1,827
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                     1,825
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                            1,825
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            0.12