... So Challenger would be Vedette, and the CRJ-200 a Vedette II ? ...
I like it! Which brings up plausible designations for your pair ...
RW Challenger DND DesignationsCX-144 -- Canadair CL-600 (2nd prototype)
CC-144A - Canadair CL-600
CE-144 -- CC-144A mods for 414 & 434 Sqns
CP-144 -- CC-144A mods (project cancelled)
CC-144B - Canadair CL-601
CC-144C - Bombardier CL-604
CC-144D - Bombardier CL-650 (CC-144A repl.)
Note that the CE and CP CL-600 mods didn't retain the VIP transport's A suffix. So, I'd guess that - regardless of Canadair/Bombardier model type, a Challenger AEW variant would be designated 'CE-144A' and the CRJ variant would be 'CE-144B'.
Mind you, DND often plays fast and loose with aircraft designations so you can too! Maybe, just for fun, make the
Vedette a 'CE-144E' and the
Vedette II a 'CE-194A'?
... as Chris mentions in his book, there wasn't a lot of room in them and radar system probably worked at half power...
I can see that. According to Danish friends, the
Challenger is already pretty cramped in the MP/SAR role. The CRJ may not be as 'sporty' as a
Challenger but the Regional Jet has plenty of space in that ol' tube. And who needs a 'sporty' AEW anyway?