<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874761</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AES CORPORATION</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AES</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237640</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LADER PHILIP</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>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Units</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <value>0</value>
      <footnoteId id="F1"/>
    </conversionOrExercisePrice>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-06-30</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <deemedExecutionDate>
      <value>2003-06-30</value>
    </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>1214</value>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>6.385</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>A</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <exerciseDate>
      <value>1988-08-08</value>
      <footnoteId id="F2"/>
    </exerciseDate>
    <expirationDate>
      <value>1988-08-08</value>
      <footnoteId id="F2"/>
    </expirationDate>
    <underlyingSecurity>
      <underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </underlyingSecurityTitle>
      <underlyingSecurityShares>
        <value>1214</value>
      </underlyingSecurityShares>
    </underlyingSecurity>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>2692</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>I</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      <natureOfOwnership>
        <value>Director Deferred Units</value>
      </natureOfOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </derivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Regarding conversion of derivative security, units will convert to Common Stock on a one for one basis after the participant retires or resigns from the Board.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Regarding exercise and expiration date, this date will depend on the retirement or resignation date of the participant.  Upon such date, the participant may convert units earned into stock and take a distribution.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>Philip Lader</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

