<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998
AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR THEN ENDED AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                             69 
<SECURITIES>                                        0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                  17,384 
<ALLOWANCES>                                      507 
<INVENTORY>                                    27,028 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               46,812 
<PP&E>                                         26,611 
<DEPRECIATION>                                 11,531 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 76,211 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          16,096 
<BONDS>                                         5,612 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0 
<PREFERRED>                                         0 
<COMMON>                                           41 
<OTHER-SE>                                     52,087 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   76,211 
<SALES>                                       116,581   
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              116,581   
<CGS>                                          81,238   
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  81,238   
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               24,514   
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  309   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                932   
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 9,588   
<INCOME-TAX>                                    1,063   
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             8,525   
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (2,426)   
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0   
<CHANGES>                                           0   
<NET-INCOME>                                    6,099   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.46<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.45<F1>

<FN>
<F1>Earnings per share has been prepared in accordance with SFAS No. 128. Basic
and diluted EPS have been entered in place of primary and fully diluted,
respectively.
</FN>