Oct 22 (Reuters) - RTX on Tuesday raised its

2024 adjusted profit and sales forecasts for the second time,

citing strong demand for aircraft repairs and defense systems.

The aerospace and defense giant expects full-year adjusted

profit per share to be between $5.50 and $5.58, compared with

its prior forecast range of $5.35 to $5.45.

The company raised its revenue forecast range to $79.25

billion to $79.75 billion, from $78.75 to $79.5 billion.

With a surge in air travel demand, airlines had to extend

the service life of aircraft amid the limited availability of

new commercial planes, creating a bustling aftermarket business.

RTX reported a quarterly per-share profit of $1.45, compared

with $1.25 a year earlier. Adjusted sales rose 6% to $20.1

billion.

RTX unit Pratt & Whitney, which competes with CFM

International to supply jet engines for Airbus' A320neo

family of aircraft, posted a third-quarter operating profit $557

million, compared to a year-ago loss, on demand for repairs.

The business is navigating an ongoing inspection drive to

check for flawed components in its geared turbofan (GTF) jet

engines that has led to grounding for hundreds of aircraft in

recent months.

RTX's Collins Aerospace business, which provides defense

products such as test and training range systems and crew escape

systems, posted an 18% rise in operating profit to $1.06

billion.

Collins also cited strong demand for aircraft component

repairs in the quarter through September.

RTX's other main business, Raytheon, one of the United

States government's biggest defense contractors, also reported a

higher profit, citing demand for products such as Patriot

missile-defense systems.

Tensions in the Middle East and the South China sea, as well

as the Ukraine war, have prompted investors pile money into

shares of defense majors such as RTX and Lockheed Martin ( LMT )

on anticipation of higher demand for weapons.