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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 vByouAn25VuDDAZ6rSV4Ow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-016165.txt : 20030808
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-016165.hdr.sgml : 20030808
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030808141008
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-016165
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030806
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030808

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RABAUT THOMAS W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241605

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16821
		FILM NUMBER:		03831239

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		UNITED DEFENSE INDUSTRIES INC
		STREET 2:		1525 WILSON BLVD.
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED DEFENSE INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051719
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT [3790]
		IRS NUMBER:				522059782
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1525 WILSON BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22209-2411
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7033126100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1525 WILSON BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 700
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22209-2411
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-06</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051719</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED DEFENSE INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UDI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241605</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RABAUT THOMAS W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED DEFENSE INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1525 WILSON BOULEVARD, SUITE 700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22209</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President/ CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>common stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.44</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value
>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>common stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransa
ction><securityTitle><value>option to purchase common stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.44</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.44</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-07-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sh
aresOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>311250</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Of this amount, 11,250 shares became exercisable on December 31, 1998 and 22,500 became exercisable on December 31, 1999.  An additional 44,250 shares became exercisable within 30 days of December 31, 1999 upon the Company's achievement of certain financial performance targets for the 1999 fiscal year.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>\s\ David V. Kolovat
as attorney in fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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