An automatic target recognizer system including: a database that stores target recognition data including multiple reference features associated with each of multiple reference targets; a pre-selector that selects a portion of the target recognition data based on a reference gating feature of the multiple reference features; a preprocessor that processes an image received from an image acquisition system which is associated with an acquired target and determines an acquired gating feature of the acquired target; a feature extractor and processor that discriminates the acquired gating feature with the reference gating feature and, if there is a match, extracts multiple segments of the image and detects the presence, absence, probability or likelihood of one of multiple features of each of the multiple reference targets; a classifier that generates a classification decision report based on a determined classification of the acquired target; and a user interface that displays the classification decision report.