-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C5KngbudJTvFKQUG45UjSRPae7dsWwSbFT5t0a+FJQX6nW01sEPNRPpdWCPBuA1w
 +Fbp7nCmhCHxYsCpz9UUgQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000317093-03-000133.txt : 20031208
<SEC-HEADER>0000317093-03-000133.hdr.sgml : 20031208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031208170628
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000317093-03-000133
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NICHOLAS CHARLES R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189810

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14617
		FILM NUMBER:		031043011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5000 ROYAL MARCO WAY #730
		CITY:			MARCO ISLAND
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34145-7802

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANDREW CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000317093
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRAWING AND INSULATING NONFERROUS WIRE [3357]
		IRS NUMBER:				362092797
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10500 W 153RD ST
		CITY:			ORLAND PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60462
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7083493300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10500 WEST 153RD ST
		CITY:			ORLANDO PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60462
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001189810d20031208f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-04</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000317093</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANDREW CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>andw</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189810</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NICHOLAS CHARLES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10500 W. 153RD STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLAND PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60462</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Corp. Officer &amp; Director</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>141226</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>58089</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>APST</value></natureOfOwnership></own
ershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.36</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-11-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.563</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-11-11</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-11-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>48000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>48000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-11-15</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-11-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>C
ommon Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>45000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>45000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.19</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-11-14</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60000</valu
e></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.65</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-10-23</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-10-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownership
Nature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-11-12</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-11-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>32000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>32000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.81</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><val
ue>2001-02-08</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-02-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>45000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>45000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>38.17</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-11-13</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-11-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><
underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>18000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-12-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F9"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>18000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Vesting Schedule

25% of Grant exercisable after 11/13/03
50% of Grant exercisable after 11/13/04
75% of Grant exercisable after 11/13/05
100% of Grant exercisable after 11/13/06 through 11/13/12</footnote><footnote id="F2">Vesting Schedule:
100% of Grant exercisable after 11/12/02 through 11/11/08</footnote><footnote id="F3">Vesting Schedule
100% of Grant exercisble after 11/16/99 through 11/15/05</footnote><footnote id="F4">100% of Grant exercisable after 12/04/03 through 11/14/11</footnote><footnote id="F5">100% of Grant exercisable after 12/04/03 through 10/23/10.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Vesting Schedule:

100% of Grant exercisable after 11/13/01 through 11/12/07</footnote><footnote id="F7">100% of Grant exercisable after 12/04/03 through 2/8/10</footnote><footnote id="F8">Vesting Schedule:

100% of Grant exercisable after 11/14/00 through 11/13/06</footnote><footnote id="F9">The derivative security is first exercisable on 12/4/06, provided that the holder may defer receipt of shares to any date up to retirement.  The derivative security may be converted into common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>James F. Petelle</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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