A method and apparatus for cognitive non-linear radar processing comprising identifying one or more frequency bands of interest, passively scanning, using a non-linear radar (NR), the one or more frequency bands of interest to determine whether interference signals are occupying the one or more bands, transmitting radar waveforms and receiving radar waveform responses at one or more frequency bands determined to be free of interference, determining a likelihood of a target being present or not based on whether the received waveform responses match stored waveform responses for non-linear targets, and modifying waveform parameters of the transmitted radar waveform when the received waveform responses match the stored waveform responses, so as to transmit a modified radar waveform.