Methods and systems relating to a cognitive tracking radar system. A radar system determines an immediately preceding state of a target being tracked. Based on this immediately preceding state, the system determines parameters and waveforms which may be used to better illuminate the target. These parameters and waveforms are then used when illuminating the target. The state of the target is then measured from the reflected returns of the illuminating waveform. The newly received measurements then form the basis for the new state of the target and the procedure is repeated.
