UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 9, 2005


                                ESSEX CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File No.  0-10772

         Virginia                                                    54-0846569
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (IRS Employer ID No.)
incorporation or organization)

         9150 Guilford Road
         Columbia, Maryland                                          21046-2306
(Address of principal executive office)                              (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:              (301) 939-7000

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[  ]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
       (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
       (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
       Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
       Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))








                                ESSEX CORPORATION





ITEM 2.02.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

            On May 9, 2005, Essex Corporation  announced via press release the
Corporation's  financial  results for the three  months  ended March 31, 2005. A
copy of the  Corporation's  press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99. This
Form 8-K,  the  information  contained  herein,  and the  attached  exhibit  are
furnished  under Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and are furnished to, but not filed with,
the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The information contained herein and in
the accompanying exhibit shall not be incorporated by reference to any filing of
the Corporation, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any
general incorporation  language in such filing, unless expressly incorporated by
specific reference to such filing.

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit 99 Press Release of the Corporation dated May 9, 2005.



                                   SIGNATURES

           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            ESSEX CORPORATION



                                    /s/ Leonard E. Moodispaw 
                                    -------------------------------------
DATE:  May 9, 2005                  Leonard E. Moodispaw
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer





                                ESSEX CORPORATION


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number          Description 


99              Press Release of the Corporation dated May 9, 2005.