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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,
 Ng2WnerM2Wp39O6Oc2ahqjpRNhszIRREvdAUE/oGMoWr+d4Q7clyCgUCyvCFVIdw
 dR3LDQ8LxmOh/HexuRZhMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001250922-03-000001.txt : 20030807
<SEC-HEADER>0001250922-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030807
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030807112020
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001250922-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030806
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030807

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEGARTY BRENDAN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183149

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02382
		FILM NUMBER:		03827959

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MTS SYSTESM CORP
		STREET 2:		14000 TECHNOLOGY DR
		CITY:			EDEN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55344

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MTS SYSTEMS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000068709
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEASURING & CONTROLLING DEVICES, NEC [3829]
		IRS NUMBER:				410908057
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0928

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14000 TECHNOLOGY DR
		CITY:			EDEN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55344-2290
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6129374000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14000 TECHNOLOGY DR
		CITY:			EDEN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55344

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RESEARCH INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19670216
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-06</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000068709</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MTS SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183149</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEGARTY BRENDAN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>18491 BEARPATH TRAIL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDEN PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55437</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>7.88</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.88</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>7.88</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-07-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-01-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares><
/underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On January 30, 2001, the reporting person was granted an option to purchase 4,000 shares of common stock. The option vested in full on July 30, 2001.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Brendan C. Hegarty</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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