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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-033444.txt : 20031203
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-033444.hdr.sgml : 20031203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031203162733
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-033444
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031203

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NETSCOUT SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001078075
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN [7373]
		IRS NUMBER:				042837575
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 TECHNOLOGY PARK DR
		CITY:			WESTFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01886
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9786144000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			WESTFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01886

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TA ASSOCIATES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001034569

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26251
		FILM NUMBER:		031035566

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 HIGH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2500
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6175746781

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 HIGH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2500
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b48711ti.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001078075</issuerCik><issuerName>NETSCOUT SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTCT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001034569</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>TA ASSOCIATES INC</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>125 HIGH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><se
curityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.30</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4599170</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value><footnoteId id="F1" /><footnoteId id="F2" /></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnotes 1&amp;2</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmoun
ts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1008</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest as the General Partner of TA Associates AAP III Partners., and as the Manager of TA Associates IX LLC, TA Associates VIII LLC, TA Executives Fund LLC and TA Investors LLC.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership  of such shares because the reporting person 's indirect pecuniary interest is subject to indeterminable future events.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The reporting person is the indirect beneficial owner of the following shares of Common Stock: (i) 3,494,985 shares owned by TA/Advent VIII L.P.; (ii) 914,062 shares owned by Advent Atlantic and Pacific III L.P.; (iii) 92,624 shares owned by TA Executives Fund LLC; and (iv) 97,499 s
hares owned by TA Investors LLC.  TA Associates IX LLC is the General Partner of TA IX L.P.  TA Associates VIII LLC is the General partner of TA/Advent VIII L.P.  TA Associates AAP III Partners is the General Partner of Advent Atlantic and Pacific III L.P.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>TA Associates, Inc.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>By: Thomas P. Alber, Chief Financial Officer</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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