-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Qa39QZVn9kLNhEIA/jAGBozq3sZm+51EEMSDLINmzNGGTrMsIfLjEcOpMFVPtrM/
 BmypDEPkQBTGQEuVKVtSsg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-08-062781.txt : 20081119
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-08-062781.hdr.sgml : 20081119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081119101323
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-08-062781
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081119

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSEN RUSSELL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133920

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23599
		FILM NUMBER:		081199864

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26 GREAT POND DRIVE
		CITY:			BOXFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01921
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179516664

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26 GRETA POND DRIVE
		CITY:			BOXFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01921
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd222291.xml
<DESCRIPTION>NQ STOCK OPTION GRANT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001049521</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCURY COMPUTER SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRCY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133920</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSEN RUSSELL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>48 BRAMS POINT DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HILTON HEAD ISLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29926</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>16000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-11-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option vests as to 8,000 shares on each of November 17, 2008 and 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Field N/A to this transaction but was completed to allow for electronic filing only.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Karl D. Noone, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----