I once read something (that I didn’t really believe) that the source codes for the RAAF Hornets were modified to prevent them detecting or locking onto US built aircraft or something along those lines.
A situation supposedly resolved by breaking the source code.
I doubt if it would be programmed such that the export Hornets couldn’t lock onto US aircraft outright, but the radar may operate in such a way that it’ll make it hard to detect or lock onto US aircraft in a combat situation.
For example, the radar may operate at a higher throughput than required or operate in such a manner that the RAAF Hornet would allow the US RWR to detect its presence earlier or even know that it is an RAAF hornet from very specific pulses or duration of pulses. This would allow the US hornet to perform evasive actions to prevent lockon. Conversely, the US hornet’s radar might be operating in a more stealthy manner.
The RAAF hornet radar may also have reduced capabilities for example, slightly longer times to lockup or slightly shorter detection range for the same radar unit. This will also allow US aircraft to detect/lockon/evade the RAAF hornet earlier. Even a short time difference is crucial in a high speed merge.
The RAAF’s hornet radar’s operating behaviour, pulses and pulse duration are known. Meaning that it is open to jamming or electronic warfare (e.g. not outright denial of scanning/targeting, but return false targets). If US hornets are operating on different parameters they would not be affected by the same jamming. This will also give a tactical advantage allowing US hornets to evade detection/lockon.
US hornets may be operating with the same declassified software load during exercises(peacetime) with a classified load for wartime purposes.
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