Methods and systems are provided including a system for signal detection and digital bandwidth reduction in a phased array comprising a digital phased array receiving system, digital beamforming network, and central system-level processing system. In at least one embodiment, a system for signal detection and digital bandwidth reduction in a phased array is provided that includes a digital phased array receiving and transmitting system, a plurality of digital processing nodes, transceivers, and a core processing node, and a plurality of digital beamforming nodes. The exemplary the digital processing nodes including control sections that each perform preprocessing to identify signals with predetermined signal characteristics. The exemplary said preprocessing further includes selecting reflected signals received by the digital phased array receiving and transmitting system having one or more of the predetermined signal characteristics. The selected reflected signals reduced in size and passed to the core processing node with radar data sets.