German fighter jets practise 'deep strike' in northern Sweden

German fighter jets were involved in a cross-NATO training exercise on Wednesday, with four Eurofighter planes taking off from a German airbase to drop off high-precision glide bombs in Sweden.

The figher jets were en route from the the Nörvenich in western Germany to northern Sweden, where they were due to drop off the precision-guided GBU-48 bombs on a military site near the village of Vidsel, according to a spokesman.

"They are practising a so-called 'deep strike' - a mission in which a distant target area is precisely engaged and the home base is reached again on the same day," the air force explained.

"The flight distance is several thousand kilometres and four aerial refuellings per jet are planned," it said, adding that these capabilities are militarily necessary in order to be able to fly missions over long distances in the event of an attack on NATO territory.

Sweden became the latest member to join the western defence alliance last year. Germany has been a member since 1955.

The German Eurofighters are part of the Tactical Air Force Wing 31 "Boelcke," designed to provide close air support for troops fighting on the ground.