JERUSALEM, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Israeli defence electronics firm Elbit Systems reported higher quarterly profit on Tuesday and said it boosted production to help supply Israel's military during the country's war with Hamas.

One of Israel's largest defence contractors, Elbit said it earned $1.65 per diluted share excluding one-time items in the third quarter, up from $1.40 per share a year earlier but lower than expectations of $1.70 based on LSEG data.

Due to higher interest rates, financial expenses rose to $35.7 million from $16.4 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose to $1.5 billion from $1.35 billion, with aerospace revenue up 24%.

"Following the brutal attack on Israel, the outbreak of war on the 7th of October and the increase in demand for our solutions by the Israel Ministry of Defence, Elbit Systems has ramped up its production in support of the Israel MOD and Israel's security forces," said CEO Bezhalel Machlis.

"We remain focused on maintaining our commitments to our customers around the world."

Elbit's board said the company would pay a dividend of 50 cents per share for the third quarter, the same as in the second quarter, to be paid on Jan. 8.

Its backlog of orders reached $16.6 billion. About 75% of that comes from orders outside Israel, and some 39% is due in the rest of 2023 and in 2024. (Reporting by Steven Scheer Editing by Mark Potter)