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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001108017-06-000789.txt : 20061120
<SEC-HEADER>0001108017-06-000789.hdr.sgml : 20061120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061120163645
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001108017-06-000789
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061120
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061120

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:		3 WESTBROOK CORPORATE CENTER, SUITE 900
		CITY:			WESTCHESTER
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60154
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(708) 236-6600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 WESTBROOK CORPORATE CENTER, SUITE 900
		CITY:			WESTCHESTER
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60154

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OLSON MARK A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189817

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14617
		FILM NUMBER:		061230259

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		-

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE WESTBROOK CORPORATE CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 900
		CITY:			WESTCHESTER
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60154
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000317093</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ANDREW CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>andw</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189817</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLSON MARK A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THREE WESTBROOK CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTCHESTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CORPORATION OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3139</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>APST</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>OPTIONS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14523</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14523</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>158223</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Filed in order to reconcile amount shown as beneficially owned by reporting person in previous reports to current holdings as reflected in account statements.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">25% of grant exercisable after 11/16/2007; 50% after 11/16/2008; 75% after 11/16/2009; and 100% exercisable after 11/16/2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MARK A OLSEN</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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