<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001134224</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BRUKER AXS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BAXS</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DROSS DANIEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.10</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-07-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>2.10</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-05-07</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2012-05-07</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.26</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-07-01</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue><value>2.26</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-05-07</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-05-07</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">In connection with the merger of Bruker AXS Inc. into Bruker Daltonics Inc, now known ask Bruker BioSciences Corporation (the "Merger"), filer's option to purchase 2,500 shares of Bruker AXS Inc. common stock was converted into an option to purchase 1,575 shares of Bruker BioSciences Corporation common stock with the same vesting schedule at 3.33 per share.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">In connection with the Merger, filer's option to purchase 2,500 shares of Bruker AXS Inc. common stock was converted into an option to purchase 1,575 shares of Bruker BioSciences Corporation common stock with the same vesting schedule at 3.59 per share.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Daniel S. Dross</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

