Fortunately, many of Charlie Wilson's successors on Capitol Hill have begun to engage on the question of whether to keep open the production line for the F-22.

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If the production line were kept open to make stripped-down versions of the stealth jet for Japan, the Air Force might try to buy some more of them for itself in the future.

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Senator Saxby Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, got an amendment into the budget to buy seven more F-22s and keep the Marietta, Ga. production line open.

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Later, it moved into the mid-size segment, retiring the popular ERJ-145 (though the production line on that aircraft is still open).

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Shuji Minami -- the product business group's general manager -- is suggesting that increased production by alternative manufacturers will open up the currently tight supply line.

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