Wideband digital receiver with integrated dynamic narrowband channelization and analysis. Signals received in a wide band are channelized into a plurality of narrower band channels within the wide band and input into a programmable narrowband filter. A set of descriptors is formed, each corresponding to an associated output signal of each of the channels. The descriptors are analyzed to determine if further processing is warranted. For each descriptor warranting further processing, one or more corresponding analysis algorithms is/are selected from a library of available analysis algorithms. The programmable narrowband filter is adjusted and a new descriptor is formed of its output. The initial set of descriptors is augmented with the new descriptor. The new descriptor is analyzed to determine if further processing of received signals is warranted.