-----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,
 Hg/ddg7Z4wOS9SmikeCc9EYq0lnrKydhL7p1qbeny7vcEbs1JL049BRJ3XgKEd4I
 9zNrib9zcBrgq1nkPs6IGQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001227356-05-000003.txt : 20051118
<SEC-HEADER>0001227356-05-000003.hdr.sgml : 20051118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051118162932
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001227356-05-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEONARD H JEFFREY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212921

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31703
		FILM NUMBER:		051215548

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ESSEX CORP.
		STREET 2:		9150 GUILFORD ROAD
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESSEX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000355199
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ENGINEERING SERVICES [8711]
		IRS NUMBER:				540846569
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6708 ALEXANDER BELL DRIVE
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3019397000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6708 ALEXANDER BELL DRIVE
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21046

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ESSEX CORPORATION
		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>2005-11-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000355199</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESSEX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>keyw</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEONARD H JEFFREY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2005-09-22</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12520</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>Please note that H. Jeffrey Leonard is no longer subject to Section 16 as of November 30, 2005.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>H. Jeffrey Leonard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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