CORRECTED-BAE Systems reports 9% rise in H1 earnings

(Corrects earnings forecast to add mid-single digit rise)

LONDON, July 31 (Reuters) - BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence company, said operational improvements in its first half drove a 9% rise in core earnings to 999 million pounds ($1.21 billion), underpinning its guidance for the full year.

The maker of Typhoon fighters, combat vehicles and Astute Class nuclear-powered attack submarines, stuck to its full-year earnings per share forecast of a mid-single digit rise on the 42.9 pence reported in 2018, assuming a $1.30 to sterling exchange rate, as the better operational performance helped offset restructuring charges.

($1 = 0.8226 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)