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: March 10, 2004



                                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





                                ESSEX CORPORATION




ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit 99 Press Release of the Corporation dated March 9, 2004.

ITEM 12.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

            On March 9, 2004, Essex Corporation  announced via press release the
Corporation's  financial  results for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2003. 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 12 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.


                                   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/ JOSEPH R. KURRY, JR.
                                    --------------------------
DATE:  March 10, 2004               Joseph R. Kurry, Jr.
                                    Sr. Vice President, Treasurer
                                    and Chief Financial Officer






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
NUMBER          DESCRIPTION



99              Press Release of the Corporation dated March 9, 2004.