It will be dragged out as long as HMG want it to. Two of BAE's biggest plants at Warton & Salmesbury are very close to safe(ish) Tory seats.
Don't be surprised to see HMG using their veto at least once safeguard "...vital specialist manufacturing jobs in cutting edge technologies..." And of course, votes.
Followed in a couple of years, by former Politicians gaining seats on BAe's Board who will oversee further reduction in the size of BAe with production transferring to Saudi Arabia where production of future projects will be completed in a far less time, under or on budget by 'slave' labour from South West Asia, with aforementioned ex-HMG Politicians retiring on huge hold plated pensions, after writing their own 'redundancy' packages contributing to nothing except expanding the desolation & destruction of specialist engineering in the North West of England.
Crystal ball firmly tucked away inside soap box & heading off to bed.
Bah Humbug!