WASHINGTON - Raytheon Co. said Thursday profit rose in the third quarter on increased demand for the defense contractor's Patriot missile by foreign governments, and for its soldier training programs.

The company, whose products include missiles, sensors and radar systems, lifted its earnings guidance range for the rest of the year, but offered an outlook for 2010 weaker than Wall Street's forecast.

But the weaker 2010 outlook didn't seem to concern investors. Raytheon appears poised to be on track for a solid performance this year, and beyond, as international sales drive growth. International sales hit a record in the quarter and the company anticipates that in 2009, sales outside of the U.S. will rise as much as 22 percent above last year's level, the company said during a conference call with investors and analysts.

Shares of Raytheon added $1.99, or 4.4 percent, to $47.17 in midday trading.

In the third quarter, Raytheon's net income rose 15 percent to $490 million, or $1.25 per share, from $427 million, or $1.01 per share, a year earlier. Earnings from continuing operations, which include operations in which the company has a minority stake, rose to $499 million from $437 million.

Analysts expected profit of $1.16 per share, according to Thomson Reuters. Per-share results were aided by the company's stock buyback program. It repurchased 6.4 million shares in the quarter.

Revenue grew 6 percent to $6.21 billion from $5.86 billion led by its technical services division due to strong demand for its soldier training programs.

Much of Raytheon's growth came from outside the U.S. and that trend is expected to continue. The company predicts 2009 international sales will rise 20 percent to 22 percent above last year's results.

"Our international business continues to be strong and it's an important driver to our growth," said Chairman and CEO William Swanson, on the conference call.

Raytheon is one of the nation's largest Pentagon suppliers of military electronics, making missiles, radars and equipment. It has also worked steadily at growing its business in other areas like alternative energy. As U.S. defense spending winds down, the company has expanded by ramping up sales abroad. It sells missile defense systems to nations in the Persian Gulf and Asia that are wary of potential threats from Iranian and North Korean missiles. Raytheon said it received a total of $5.14 billion in new business awards during the July-September period. Of those, 25 percent came from international customers.

"We're aware of downward pressure on defense spending, particularly in the U.S.," said Swanson.