But Lockheed, which makes fighter jets, cargo planes, Patriot missiles and sells a range of technology services, forecast 2006 profit toward the lower end of Wall Street forecasts, sending its shares slightly lower.
Sales of such systems boosted third-quarter profit, as the Bethesda, Maryland-based company reported profit of $427 million, or 96 cents per share, for the quarter. That compares with $307 million, or 69 cents per share, last year.
Revenue rose 9 percent to $9.2 billion.
Earnings beat analysts' average forecast of 90 cents per share, but revenue fell a little short of Wall Street's forecast of $9.38 billion, according to Reuters Estimates.
Looking forward, Lockheed forecast 2006 earnings of $4.00 to $4.25 per share, at the lower end of analysts' forecasts, which average out at $4.21 per share. For the first time next year, Lockheed's results will include the cost of stock options, the company said.
The company forecast 2006 revenue of $38 billion to $39.5 billion, in line with analysts' forecast of $39.5 billion.
Lockheed forecast full-year revenue of $37 billion to $37.5 billion, a touch shy of analysts' average forecast of $37.7 billion.