A method for target detection and angle estimation in a radar system includes receiving a signal from a radar array; based on the received signal, performing monopulse beamforming to obtain one or more monopulse beams; based on the monopulse beams, determining monopulse ratios; using maximum likelihood estimation based on the determined monopulse ratios to determine a monopulse ratio estimate corresponding to a maximum of a likelihood function; accessing a table correlating monopulse ratio estimates and target angle values and determining from the table an estimated target angle; accessing a complex target amplitude corresponding to the estimated target angle, comparing the complex target amplitude to a threshold; and if, based on the step of comparing, the target amplitude exceeds the threshold, providing an output signal indicative of target detection and the estimated target angle.