UPDATE 1-Force Protection Q4 profit tops Street view

* Q4 EPS 17 cents vs est 11 cents

* Q4 rev falls 46 pct to $239.1 mln

* To delay filing annual report

* Shares rise about 12 pct

March 16 (Reuters) - Defense contractor Force Protection Inc (FRPT.O) reported quarterly profit above market estimates, helped by higher gross margin and lower expenses, sending its shares up about 12 percent.

For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, net income was $11.7 million, or 17 cents a share, up from $8.3 million, or 12 cents a share, a year earlier.

Revenue fell 46 percent to $239.1 million.

"The decline in revenues was primarily the result of lower revenues recognized on shipments of vehicles due to the substantial completion of production under the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program," the company said in a statement.

However, revenue from its service and support business rose more than three-fold to $97.7 million.

Gross profit margin rose by 6 percentage points, largely due to the shift in product mix from vehicle production to service and support. General and administrative expenses fell 28 percent to $20 million.

The Ladson, South Carolina-based company also said it would not be able to file its 2008 annual report by the due date of March 16, and is working "as expeditiously as possible" to complete this filing.

Shares of the company were trading at $5.80 after the bell. They closed at $5.20 Monday on Nasdaq..

For the alerts, double-click on [ID:nWNAB4519] (Reporting by Mary Meyase in Bangalore; Editing by Deepak Kannan)