<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-04-005560
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040304
<FILING-DATE>20040308
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ALMEIDA DAVID A
<CIK>0001230161
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-16182
<FILM-NUMBER>04654587
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 175
<CITY>ROCKY HILL
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06067
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES INC
<CIK>0000206030
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3827
<IRS-NUMBER>111962029
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1228
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103
<CITY>ROCKY HILL
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06067
<PHONE>2018711500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>175 CAPITAL BLVD SUITE 103
<CITY>ROCKY HILL
<STATE>CT
<ZIP>06067
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>VERNITRON CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000206030</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXSYS TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXYS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230161</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALMEIDA DAVID A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>175 CAPITAL BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKY HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO, VP, Secretary, Treasurer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Incentive Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.99</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">*Exercisable as to 2,000 shares on first annieversary of the date of the grant and as to 2,000 shares on each of the four subsequent anniversaries of the date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David A. Almeida</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
