High Altitude military IFR formation flying
Cruising along over France a few days ago, at FL400, a couple of (presumably) Rafale's overtook us, a couple of levels lower, in tight formation, following the same airway. They slowly pulled away for the next 30 mins or so, at the same level and separation, before I lost sight of them.
Excuse my ignorance, but presumably they would have been on autopilot? If not, are late generation military jets stable enough to fly for long high altitude transits by hand?