UDI Stockholders Approve Merger Agreement with
BAE Systems

Contact:
Jayne Schmitt, Investor Relations
United Defense
jayne.schmitt@baesystems.com
(703) 312-6122

Doug Coffey, Media
United Defense Industries, Inc.
doug.coffey@baesystems.com
(703) 312-6121

ARLINGTON, VA, May 10, 2005 - United Defense Industries, Inc. (NYSE:UDI) released the tabulation of stockholder votes announced at its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held today. Owners of more than 90 percent of United Defense's outstanding common stock were represented in person or by proxy at the meeting. Voting results follow:

Approval of Merger
UDI's stockholders adopted the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 6, 2005, among BAE Systems North America Inc., Ute Acquisition Company Inc. and UDI. The merger was approved by holders of a majority of UDI's outstanding common stock. The U.K. shareholder meeting of BAE Systems plc to approve the acquisition is scheduled for May 13, 2005. The transaction has been approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and by regulatory authorities in Sweden, Turkey, Germany, and Norway. The Department of Justice is continuing to review the transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. Subject to the BAE Systems plc shareholder vote and regulatory approval, the parties continue to anticipate completing the merger in mid-2005.

Election of Directors
Each of the following nine nominees to the board of directors was re-elected: Frank C. Carlucci, Peter J. Clare, William E. Conway, Jr., C. Thomas Faulders, III, Adm. Robert J. Natter (Ret.), Gen. J.H. Binford Peay, III (Ret.), Thomas W. Rabaut, Francis Raborn, and Gen. John M. Shalikashvili (Ret.).

About United Defense Industries
United Defense designs, develops and produces combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions used by the U.S. Department of Defense and allies worldwide, and provides non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion to the U.S. Navy and other U.S. Government agencies. To learn more about United Defense, visit http://www.uniteddefense.com.

Forward-Looking 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 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.