<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMEDICS DETECTION INC.'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 3, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-03-1998 <PERIOD-END> JAN-03-1998 <CASH> 46,352 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 19,350 <ALLOWANCES> 1,127 <INVENTORY> 16,819 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 87,264 <PP&E> 10,697 <DEPRECIATION> 6,686 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 148,265 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 40,919 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,932 <OTHER-SE> 105,414 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 148,265 <SALES> 89,264 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 104,374 <CGS> 38,694 <TOTAL-COSTS> 46,395 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 9,643 <LOSS-PROVISION> 201 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,239 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,677 <INCOME-TAX> 8,171 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,506 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,506 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.67 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.67