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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J6UoG30C/bcOz8l0y3EfGD6THlqjH9P/T1GcIsP/MUTYZse15pEUHS24EIwcYjjC
 K8x29J0hpaS4OCqTjPDSnw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-018224.txt : 20030821
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-018224.hdr.sgml : 20030821
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030821095009
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-018224
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030821

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:		03859173

	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>2003-08-19</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>2003-08-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</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>2003-08-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</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><derivativeTransact
ion><securityTitle><value>option to purchase common stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.44</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</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>6000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><shares
OwnedFollowingTransaction><value>305250</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The full amount 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>2003-08-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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