PARIS, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Europe's Airbus on

Wednesday reported higher than expected third-quarter profits

and revenues led by commercial jetliner deliveries and 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.

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.

($1= 0.8575 euros)