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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Eo47bd2IqPfxK27TFjf/QBsG7X376S/vtZgZzYVROqaEi2JEcfML7wLx7KcZNTx/
 s4xOU8BUJeOo6tVvewUBJg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001264725-03-000021.txt : 20031113
<SEC-HEADER>0001264725-03-000021.hdr.sgml : 20031113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031113151228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001264725-03-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031113

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMERY SIDNEY W JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183148

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02382
		FILM NUMBER:		03997729

	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>2003-11-13</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000068709</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MTS SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183148</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EMERY SIDNEY W JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14000 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDEN PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55344</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman, CEO and President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>132494.396</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Voluntarily reporting of 174.271 shares and 162.821 shares acquired in July and October 2003, respectively, pursuant to the MTS Dividend Reinvestment Plan</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName> Sidney W. Emery, Jr., by Barbara J. Carpenter POA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-13</signatureDat
e></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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