Russian fighters fly non-stop to Far East

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MOSCOW, July 4 (UPI) -- A force of Russian fighters recently flew from Europe to the Far East for the first time using in-flight refueling, military officials said.

The feat was accomplished during the ongoing Vostok-2010 exercises, which test Russia's ability to rapidly reinforce its garrisons on the Pacific side of the vast nation.

Chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov told the RIA Novosti news agency Sunday that the planes flew from the European end of Russia "to eastern airfields in the Far Eastern district without landing, with in-flight refueling and the delivery of strikes according to assignments received during the flight."

The jets required two or three rendezvous with aerial tankers during the journey, Makarov added.

Vostok-2010 continues this week, RIA Novosti said. The next phase focuses on naval operations and the redeployment of troops to Siberia.