-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 sIWy6UHt9CqbpjcED9l7qQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-008732.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-008732.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030508212623
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-008732
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:			DEYOUNG MARK W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188447

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10582
		FILM NUMBER:		03688990

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 EHLEN DRIVE
		CITY:			ANOKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55303
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7633233870

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>j0518_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>0001188447</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEYOUNG MARK W</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>GVP-Ammunition</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>1500</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>3881</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>2003-05-06</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>521</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>54.55</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>3360</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      <natureOfOwnership>
        <value/>
      </natureOfOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Phantom Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>0</value>
      <footnoteId id="F3"/>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-05-06</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>1600</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>49.36</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>1988-08-08</value>
      <footnoteId id="F3"/>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>1988-08-08</value>
      <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      <footnoteId id="F4"/>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>1640</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>1640</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>D</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      <natureOfOwnership>
        <value/>
      </natureOfOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <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: 978 shares owned directly that are subject to certain restrictions (including possible forfeiture) applicable to restricted stock grants under the Issuer's 2000 Stock Incentive Plan; 419.396 directly-owned shares held in the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2003; and 983.778 indirectly-owned shares allocated to the reporting person's account under the Issuer's 401(k) plan as of April 30, 2003.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">The Phantom Stock Units were acquired through the deferral of a bonus under the Issuer's Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan.  The amount of the deferral corresponded to a price of $49.36/share.  The units are deemed to convert on a 1-for-1 basis with common stock but will be settled 100% in cash following the reporting person's termination of employment or such other date specified by the reporting person.  However, following a one-year holding period which expires May 6, 2004, the reporting person may elect to transfer funds out of the Phantom Stock account (known as the restricted bonus sub-account) and into other Plan accounts.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">The actual expiration date is not known at this time.  Due to technical constraints resulting from the Release 8.5 upgrade to the EDGAR system, the staff of the SEC has designated that "08/08/1988" be entered until such time as the system is modified.  The units are to be settled 100% in cash following the reporting person's termination of employment or such other date specified by the reporting person.  However, the reporting person may elect to transfer funds into other investment accounts within the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan at any time.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Mark W. DeYoung</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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