From what I understand, they use it around weapons bays and other openings as well as serated openings together to scatter waves when they are otherwise in a vulnerable position by having a larger and non stealthy profile while they are open, so it's not so much actively changing the radio cross section but it's drawing the radio wave along the tape and causing it to dissipate in small bursts at different electrical charges as opposed to being one unified return wave, while the serrations. I imagine instead of looking like a long object, maybe the return signal appears more that of some birds, perhaps.

If you look at the f35, you'll see the light gray patterns; that's all radar scattering tape cuz it doubles in benefit being easier to maintain than regularly repainting a plane that has supersonic capabilities.