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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DEKOFlg9O9qhskG8W0pSxNiP1vVzs3K/cw5bDidAf6ABXhWcteUU9+ukOtkThgDE
 ma7op7fxy5+mLbkuKjnKNA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-001285.txt : 20040115
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-001285.hdr.sgml : 20040115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040115200317
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-001285
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040109
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040115

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLLINS JAMES F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000939561

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21236
		FILM NUMBER:		04528385

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 W CALIFORNIA AVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 W CALIFORNIA AVENUE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APPLIED SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000741696
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669]
		IRS NUMBER:				770015491
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 WEST CALIFORNIA AVENUE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087491888

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 W CALIFORNIA
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-09</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000741696</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLIED SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APSG</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000939561</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COLLINS JAMES F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 W. CALIFORNIA AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94086</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-09</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8900</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>27.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>213857</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable></derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>James F. Collins</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-15</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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