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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,
 DkM9AqPdefHZ4vwJuf5LwPFJ/mOoiIpunKsBnQBouyup7uA3uIjZ0T4Lodufw/jq
 bu3ziQsf4cKwDNgDJdtrQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-002668.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-002668.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114135352
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-002668
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SALINE CRAIG A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001274409

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23599
		FILM NUMBER:		04524590

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERCURY COMPUTER SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001049521
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS & ACCESSORIES [3670]
		IRS NUMBER:				042741391
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		199 RIVERNECK RD
		CITY:			CHELMSFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01824
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9782561300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		199 RIVERNECK ROAD
		CITY:			CHELMSFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01824
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd28995.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OPTION GRANT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-13</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001049521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCURY COMPUTER SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRCY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001274409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SALINE CRAIG A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1797 BEACON STREET, #2</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROOKLINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02445</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, Organizational Development</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>NQ Stock Option (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.96</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>40000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-13</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-13</value></ex
pirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This option vests as to 10,000 shares on each of January 13, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Field N/A to this transaction but was completed to allow for electronic filing only.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Joseph M. Hartnett, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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