<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from The
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of ADE Corporation for the nine
months ended January 31, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1998
<CASH>                                          69,296
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,947
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     28,546
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               129,632
<PP&E>                                          22,315
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 167,477
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           18,154
<BONDS>                                          8,707
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              111
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                     140,505
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   167,477
<SALES>                                         99,386
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                99,386
<CGS>                                           44,080
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                43,840
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,447
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,913
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,391
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,522
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,830
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.83