-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EfS0ksTho2x1HMKiUdLUXqKX1FCWE77a7jjbVAws4l00wNvzif6RUNl6wQGflCMj
 kWHG9p4EgumaAM66w6fmvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000032198-05-000017.txt : 20050207
<SEC-HEADER>0000032198-05-000017.hdr.sgml : 20050207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050207105132
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000032198-05-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050207

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAASE ALAN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001270649

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-06072
		FILM NUMBER:		05579287

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9724199680

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EMS TECHNOLOGIES
		STREET 2:		7510 FITCHBURG AVE
		CITY:			GARLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75044

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMS TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000032198
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				581035424
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		660 ENGINEERING DRIVE
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30092
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7702639200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 7700
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30091-7700

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ELECTROMAGNETIC SCIENCES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000032198</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMS TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ELMG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001270649</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAASE ALAN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EMS TECHNOLOGIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7510 FITCHBURG AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GARLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75044</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>637</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>841</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Purchases from 1/1/04 through 12/31/04 pursuant to employee stock plan satisfying Rule 16(b)-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Alan L. Haase</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----