A spatial cognitive radar system, method of assembling the radar, and method of selecting antenna elements in the radar are described. The system includes a phased array of a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of receiver channels, the plurality of receiver channels being a value greater than one and less than a number of the plurality of antenna elements. The system also includes a processor to determine a subset of the plurality of antenna elements, equal in number to the plurality of receiver channels, to be used in transmitting or receiving with the spatial cognitive radar system.