PARIS (Reuters) -Europe's Airbus on Wednesday reported higher than expected third-quarter profits and revenues led by commercial jetliner deliveries and robust gains in helicopters and defence.

It reaffirmed its main financial and delivery targets but cut the production goal for its smallest model and now aims to assemble 12 of the Canadian-designed A220s a month in 2026, down from a previous target of 14 a month in the same period.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Airbus had pushed back the assembly of some A220s this year and next, and set an internal target of 12 A220s a month in mid-June 2026, with a rate of 14 a month pencilled in for the last few weeks of the year.

Airbus has previously said it aims to reach an assembly speed of 14 a month to help break even on the programme which it acquired from Canadian planemaker Bombardier in 2018. But Wednesday's announcement made no further mention of that goal.

The world's largest planemaker said core operating profit rose 38% to 1.94 billion euros ($2.26 billion) in the three months to end-September as revenues grew 14% to 17.83 billion.

Analysts were on average expecting core or adjusted operating profit of 1.76 billion euros on revenues of 17.37 billion euros, according to a company-compiled consensus.

Airbus said its financial forecasts now included the impact of currently applicable tariffs.

2025 DELIVERIES REMAIN 'BACKLOADED'

Airbus reaffirmed a target for around 820 commercial jet deliveries for 2025, after industrial concerns over engine supplies eased during the third quarter.

But it faces another sprint to the finishing line after handing over 507 jets in the first nine months. CEO Guillaume Faury said deliveries would remain "backloaded".

Planemakers have been wrestling with engine shortages due to supply constraints and competition from maintenance shops, where there is pressing demand for spares to relieve waiting times.

Airbus said it was sticking to a production rate forecast of 75 of its best-selling A320neos a month at some point in 2027, compared with industry estimates of about 60 now.

In defence, Airbus said it continued to study the potential impact of order uncertainty on its A400M airlifter programme despite a deal with France and Spain to smooth production.

Boeing earlier posted an adjusted third-quarter loss of $7.47 per share, compared with average expectations of a $4.59 loss, and took a near-$5 billion hit on its delayed 777X.

($1= 0.8575 euros)