WIA of Korea and United Defense Deliver First International Mk 45 Mod 4 Gun to the Republic of Korea Navy

Contact:
Jeff Van Keuren, Public Affairs
jeff.van.keuren@udlp.com
(763) 572-7615

Doug Coffey, Media
doug.coffey@udlp.com
(703) 312-6121

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, April 26, 2002 - United Defense (NYSE:UDI) and World Industries Ace (WIA), have delivered the first internationally produced Mk 45 Mod 4 gun to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy. This is the first time a Mk 45 Mod 4 gun was sold overseas and is the culmination of superb teamwork by WIA and United Defense over the past 27 months.

United Defense and WIA jointly produced components for the Mod 4 guns. United Defense provided technical assistance, spare parts, and training, while WIA performed final assembly and test in Korea. The ROK Navy worked closely with United Defense to help WIA successfully build and deliver the first Mk 45 gun.

"The contract with WIA is a manufacturing license agreement in which United Defense delivers most of the upper gun, the shield and the loader and WIA is responsible for the production of the lower hoist, the panels and the assembly and test of the gun itself," said Scott Sismilich, Mk 45 Korea Program Manager.

In December 1999, United Defense won a competitive $22 million contract to co-produce three Mk 45 Mod 4 guns for Korea's KDX II lightweight destroyer shipbuilding program. WIA will deliver the second gun in October 2002 and the third one in August 2003. Since the original contract, United Defense has begun discussions with WIA to co-produce the next purchase of guns for the Korean Navy.

"This delivery is especially significant because it is our first international Mk 45 Mod 4 gun sale and it demonstrates our ability to meet foreign naval requirements using co-production," said Scott Thompson, Director, International Programs.

About United Defense
United Defense 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 allies worldwide. Visit United Defense on the Internet at http://www.uniteddefense.com.

Information in this release may involve guidance, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to United Defense Industries, Inc. as of the date of the release, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Some of the factors and risks associated with our business are discussed in the Company's registration statement dated December 13, 2001 on Form S-1 and in our other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.