-----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,
 R4TZ13CrK5K4nAB05EWN7JSB4zcsJhaqULSJ5+MDpQQeIWBH6+bhcJnLhVLCFn6L
 06rlinDwJWYT5nYR5P+sAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-008737.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-008737.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030508215947
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-008737
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:			MILLER PAUL DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186663

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10582
		FILM NUMBER:		03689007

	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>j0530_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>0001186663</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILLER PAUL DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</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>15000</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>78620</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>7186</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>54.55</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>71434</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>33260</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>0</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>33260</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>44312</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </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: 3,973.229 directly-owned shares held the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2003; 725.706 indirectly-owned shares allocated to the reporting person's account under the Issuer's 401(k) plan as of April 30, 2003; and 168 shares that the reporting person indirectly owns through his spouse.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">The Phantom Stock Units were credited to the reporting person's account in the Issuer's Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan in lieu of the grant by the Issuer of a PSA under the Issuer's 1990 Equity Incentive Plan. The number of units credited to the reporting person's account was determined on a 1-for-1 basis equal to the number of shares of common stock that would have been granted for the PSA (33,750 shares), reduced by the number of units having a value equal to the Issuer's tax withholding obligation as a result of the deferral of the payment of the PSA. 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>
    <footnote id="F4">Actual expir date unknown.  Due to upgrade of EDGAR, SEC staff has designated 08/08/1988 be entered until system modified.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Paul David Miller</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-05-07</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----