United Defense's Armament Systems Division Achieves CMM® Level 3 Certification

Contact:
Jeff Van Keuren
jeff.van.keuren@udlp.com
763-572-7615

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — December 20, 2001 — The Armament Systems Division (ASD) of United Defense achieved a Level 3 Rating on the Software Capability Maturity Model® (CMM) version 1.1, a certification based on the guidelines established by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University. Major programs at ASD with significant software development include the U.S. Army's Crusader Program, the U.S. Navy's Advanced Gun System (AGS) for the DD(X) destroyer, and the U.S. Navy's Mk 45 Naval Gun System.

ASD had received CMM Level 2 certification for the Mk 45 Naval Gun Program in 1998 and the next year achieved Level 2 certification for the Crusader program.

The software Capability Maturity Model is today's standard for assessing a company's software development capability. The Department of Defense generally requires CMM Level 3 certification for new software development programs to be awarded to a company.

United Defense (NYSE: UDI) is a leader in the design, development and production of combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions used by the U.S. Department of Defense and its allies around the world. The company's 5,300 employees are recognized for their outstanding research and development efforts in key technologies, the development of combat system operating software, and for highly efficient manufacturing processes. Visit United Defense on the Internet at http://www.uniteddefense.com.

CMM® and Capability Maturity Model® are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.