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, 2006


                                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)

         6708 Alexander Bell Drive
         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, 2006,  Essex  Corporation  announced via press release the
Corporation's financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2006.
A copy of the  Corporation's  press release is attached  hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
This Form 8-K, the information  contained herein,  and the attached Exhibit 99.1
are furnished under Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and are furnished to, but shall not be
deemed filed with,  the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The  information
contained herein and in the accompanying  Exhibit 99.1 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 99.1           Press Release of the Corporation dated May 9, 2006.


                                   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/ LISA G. JACOBSON
                           ---------------------------------------------------
DATE:  May 9, 2006         Lisa G. Jacobson
                           Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer





                                ESSEX CORPORATION


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
NUMBER          DESCRIPTION


99.1            Press Release of the Corporation dated May 9, 2006.