-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 z3tuVoyGQMbSy5xbjxHyqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001250853-09-000011.txt : 20090123
<SEC-HEADER>0001250853-09-000011.hdr.sgml : 20090123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090123174244
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001250853-09-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HILL HOWARD F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001278604

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13301
		FILM NUMBER:		09543307

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8585496340

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7610 MIRAMAR RD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 6000
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92126-4202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			R F INDUSTRIES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000740664
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS [3678]
		IRS NUMBER:				880168936
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7610 MIRAMAR RD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 6000
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92126-2313
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8585496340

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7620 MIRAMAR RD #4100
		STREET 2:		7620 MIRAMAR RD #4100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92126-4202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CELLTRONICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910204
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740664</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>R F INDUSTRIES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RFIL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001278604</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HILL HOWARD F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7610 MIRAMAR RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 6000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92126-4202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Opttion</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Howard Hill</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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