<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="/Pages/Form4.xsl"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000054381</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KAMAN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KAMN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001319629</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Keating Neal J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KAMAN CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1332 BLUE HILLS AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLOOMFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chm, Pres &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Kaman Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-05-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.7634</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>129737.1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Kaman Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held In Investment Management Account Of An LLC Wholly Owned By Mr. Keating And His Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This figure represents the weighted average purchase price for the shares purchased. The range of prices was $36.69 to $36.799. The reporting person will provide full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price upon request by the SEC staff, the issuer, or any security holder of the issuer</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes acquisition of 220.92 shares under the Corporation's Employees Stock Purchase Plan, a Rule 16(b)-3 qualified plan, through 5/11/2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes acquisition of 39.10 shares by the reporting person pursuant to the periodic, automatic reinvestment of dividends paid on the Corporation's common stock under a program maintained by the reporting person's brokerage firm which is similar to the Corporation's Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Neal J. Keating</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
