QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 10.4

[LOGO]        PERFORMANCE SHARE AGREEMENT

GRANTED TO
  GRANT DATE

  NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
  PURCHASE PRICE PER SHARE
  SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
«First» «Last»
«Street1»
«City», «State» «Zip»    
03    
20    
00   «M   of  Shares  Th»-
Threshold
«M   of  Shares  T»-Target
«M   of  Shares  O»-
Outstanding        
«National  ID

1.The Grant. Alliant Techsystems Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company")
hereby grants to the individual named above (the "Employee"), as of the above
Grant Date, the above Number of Performance Shares (the "Shares), on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Performance Share Agreement (this "Agreement")
and in the Alliant Techsystems Inc. 1990 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

2.Measuring Period. The Shares shall be payable, in the form provided in
Paragraph 4 below, and to the extent provided in Paragraph 3 below, as soon as
practical after the end of the above Measuring Period.

3.Performance Goals. Up to 100% of the Shares shall be payable, depending upon
the Business Unit achieving the Performance Goals set forth in the accompanying
Performance Accountability Chart.

4.Form of Payment. Any shares payable pursuant to Paragraph 3 above shall be
paid in shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Stock"), except to the extent
that the Personnel and Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of
Directors, in its discretion, determines that cash be paid in lieu of some or
all of such shares of stock.

5.Forfeiture. If an Employee voluntarily resigns or is involuntarily terminated
(for cause), all Shares will be forfeited. In the event of the Employee's death,
disability, retirement, or layoff, the number of Shares delivered will be based
on year-end performance and prorated for the period of active employment.

6.Rights. Nothing herein shall be deemed to grant the Employee any rights as a
holder of Stock unless and until certificates for shares of Stock are actually
issued in the name of the Employee as provided herein.

7.Income Taxes. The Employee is liable for any federal, state and local income
taxes applicable upon receipt of the Shares. Upon demand by the Company, the
Employee shall promptly pay to the Company in cash, and/or the Company may
withhold from the Employee's compensation or from the shares of Stock or any
cash payable in lieu of some or all of such shares of Stock, an amount necessary
to pay any income withholding taxes required by the Company to be collected upon
such payment.

8.Acknowledgment. This grant will not be effective until the Employee dates and
signs the form of Acknowledgment below and returns to the Company a signed copy
of this Agreement. By signing the Acknowledgment, the Employee agrees to the
terms and conditions referred to in Paragraph 1 above and acknowledges receipt
of a copy of the Prospectus related to the Plan.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:   ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EMPLOYEE'S SIGNATURE  
   
   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DATE  
   
Paul David Miller
Director, President, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUICKLINKS

[LOGO] PERFORMANCE SHARE AGREEMENT