A portable radar system comprising: a transmit array comprising a plurality of transmit antenna elements; radar transmitter electronics in signal communication with the transmit array, wherein the radar transmitter electronics, in conjunction with the transmit array, are configured to output a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmit beam, wherein: the FMCW transmit beam is a high aspect ratio transmit beam, such that the FMCW transmit beam illuminates an area with a greater extent in a first illumination direction than in a second illumination direction, wherein the second illumination direction is substantially perpendicular to the first illumination direction, and the FMCW transmit beam is fixed such that the FMCW transmit beam illuminates the area without scanning; a receive array comprising a plurality of receive antenna elements; and radar receiver electronics arranged to: receive a plurality of receive signals from the receive array; and processing circuitry arranged to: digitally form a receive beam from the plurality of receive signals; determine one or more characteristics of a sub-area of the area illuminated by the FMCW transmit beam, wherein the sub-area is within the receive beam; establish a communication session with a mobile computing device; receive inputs from the mobile computing device to adjust the function of the portable radar system and output a signal to the mobile computing device, wherein the signal is configured to be processed by the mobile computing device to display: target detection information in three dimensions, the three dimensions including range, azimuth and elevation; and target movement characteristics, including relative velocity and angular velocity. radar transmitter electronics in signal communication with the transmit array, wherein the radar transmitter electronics, in conjunction with the transmit array, are configured to output a frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmit beam, wherein: the FMCW transmit beam is a high aspect ratio transmit beam, such that the FMCW transmit beam illuminates an area with a greater extent in a first illumination direction than in a second illumination direction, wherein the second illumination direction is substantially perpendicular to the first illumination direction, and the FMCW transmit beam is fixed such that the FMCW transmit beam illuminates the area without scanning; the FMCW transmit beam is a high aspect ratio transmit beam, such that the FMCW transmit beam illuminates an area with a greater extent in a first illumination direction than in a second illumination direction, wherein the second illumination direction is substantially perpendicular to the first illumination direction, and the FMCW transmit beam is fixed such that the FMCW transmit beam illuminates the area without scanning; a receive array comprising a plurality of receive antenna elements; and radar receiver electronics arranged to: receive a plurality of receive signals from the receive array; and processing circuitry arranged to: digitally form a receive beam from the plurality of receive signals; determine one or more characteristics of a sub-area of the area illuminated by the FMCW transmit beam, wherein the sub-area is within the receive beam; establish a communication session with a mobile computing device; receive inputs from the mobile computing device to adjust the function of the portable radar system and output a signal to the mobile computing device, wherein the signal is configured to be processed by the mobile computing device to display: target detection information in three dimensions, the three dimensions including range, azimuth and elevation; and target movement characteristics, including relative velocity and angular velocity. digitally form a receive beam from the plurality of receive signals; determine one or more characteristics of a sub-area of the area illuminated by the FMCW transmit beam, wherein the sub-area is within the receive beam; establish a communication session with a mobile computing device; receive inputs from the mobile computing device to adjust the function of the portable radar system and output a signal to the mobile computing device, wherein the signal is configured to be processed by the mobile computing device to display: target detection information in three dimensions, the three dimensions including range, azimuth and elevation; and target movement characteristics, including relative velocity and angular velocity. target detection information in three dimensions, the three dimensions including range, azimuth and elevation; and target movement characteristics, including relative velocity and angular velocity.