Yes, it does all that, but they stop short of the complete truth. It's yet another IRI (Ionospheric Research Instrument) & another example of the escalation of the largely unknown future weapons arms race, which in short, centers around energy weapons.
The antenna arrays & massive parabolic dishes that cover the globe are & have been in use for many decades. Every major nation state has them. Every nation state is escalating the race & the public remains ignorant.
NEXRAD interfaces with PAVE PAWS. Ocean going platforms. Satellites & space platforms are interfaced & they all work to refine & strengthen defense weapons. (?)
Beacons are generated & their trajectories tracked. Their impacts registered.
Radio tomography is an R & D aside of this research.
Laser weapons are ubiqutous. The future threat won't simply be nukes.
1st image==PAVE PAWS Clear AFB CA
2 - Defense coverage Note: Tracking all movement just happens to overlap the Directed Energy Weapons programs needs. Go Figure!
3 - Ground heater array AK. One of many! - Tesla Coils in Russia! Marx Generators
4 - Exmouth - western Australia
5 - Comparison - Green Bank "Radio" Telescope…