-----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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 +2+IXbmIKtanUTO5Is6gtg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-008725.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-008725.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030508203414
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-008725
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20030516

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHADLEY ROBERT D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186666

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10582
		FILM NUMBER:		03688978

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5050 LINCOLN DRIVE
		CITY:			EDINA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55436

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000866121
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ORDNANCE & ACCESSORIES, (NO VEHICLES/GUIDED MISSILES) [3480]
		IRS NUMBER:				411672694
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5050 LINCOLN DRIVE
		CITY:			EDINA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55436-1097
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9523513000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5050 LINCOLN DRIVE
		CITY:			EDINA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55436-1097
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>j0529_4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-05-06</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>    <issuerCik>0000866121</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>ATK</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
      <rptOwnerCik>0001186666</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHADLEY ROBERT D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>VP-Logistics &amp; Army Operations</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-06</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>6750</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>10314</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      <natureOfOwnership>
        <value/>
      </natureOfOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-05</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>2343</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>54.55</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>7971</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      <natureOfOwnership>
        <value/>
      </natureOfOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired represent payment of a Performance Share Award ("PSA"), and shares disposed of represent shares withheld from the PSA to pay withholding taxes.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">The amount reported includes: 1,125 shares owned directly that are subject to certain restrictions (including possible forfeiture) applicable to restricted stock grants under the Issuer's 1990 Equity Incentive Plan; 691.913 directly-owned shares held in the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2003; and 284.105 indirectly-owned shares allocated to the reporting person's account under the Issuer's 401(k) plan as of April 30, 2003.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Robert D. Shadley</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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