High‐resolution measurements of the K x‐ray spectra of metallic Ca, Ti, Cr, and Fe were performed with a von Hamos Bragg crystal spectrometer. The target x‐ray emission was induced by by 2–19 MeV/amu C, O and Ne ions. The energies of the well resolved K&agr;LNX‐ray satellite lines were determined. Based on the measured values the empirical formula for the K&agr;LNsatellite energy shift of the 3d transition elements is given. For the Ca and Ti target bombarded with C ions also the K&agr;hLNhypersatellite lines the K&bgr;LNsatellite lines and even the K&bgr;hLNhypersatellite lines have been measured and their energies determined. The possible variation of the energy differences between neighboring satellite and hypersatellite lines with the projectile energy and atomic number was probed. No significant dependence on the projectile characteristics was observed. In contrast to that the absolute energies of the satellite and hypersatellite lines lines were found to depend on the projectile velocity. This dependence was attributed to the M shell ionization of the target atoms accompanied to the K and L‐shell ionization produced in collisions. © 2003 American Institute of Physics