United Defense Receives Danish Naval Gun Contract Award
First Sale of the Mk 45 Mod 4 Naval Gun to Europe

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

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, October 22, 2002 - United Defense Industries, Inc. (NYSE:UDI) received a contract from the Royal Danish Navy (RDN) for two Mk 45 Mod 4, 5-inch 62-caliber naval guns and associated logistical support. The contract with RDN's Naval Materiel Command calls for delivery of the first gun in late 2003 with the second gun due to Denmark in 2004.

The Mk 45 Mod 4 guns will be installed aboard ships of the RDN's Flexible Support Ship (FSS) Program. Flexible support ships are designed and constructed by the Odense Steel Shipyard in Denmark. This first European installation of the Mod 4 version of the venerable Mk 45 naval gun will fully support the FSS wide range of duties focused on joint and multinational operations around the world.

"This is the initial introduction of the Mk 45 Mod 4, the world's premier medium caliber naval gun system, into Europe," said Keith Howe, Vice President and General Manager of United Defense's Armament Systems Division. "I look forward to a promising and productive relationship with the Royal Danish Navy, and the continued acceptance of the Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun in other European navies in the future."

The Mk 45 Mod 4 will fire advanced munitions being developed by the U.S. Navy, including the Extended Range Guided Munition as well as all other U.S. Navy and NATO standard 5-inch ammunition.

Rear Admiral Niels Mejdal, Chief of Naval Materiel Command, emphasized the vital importance of this program within the Danish Armed Forces. "It is an excellent example where joint requirements override single service priority, and we are proud to be among the leaders of this kind of jointness. Based on partnership with the U. S. Navy and United Defense, the RDN will offer a unique capability to NATO within a few years."

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 and is America's largest non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion company. To learn more about United Defense, visit http://www.uniteddefense.com.

Looking-Forward Statements
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. Please refer to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 and in our other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of the factors and risks associated with our business.