A system and method to perform two-stage beamforming in a radar system includes obtaining an incoming signal vector x associated with a detected target. The method also includes performing coarse beamforming with a first set of k1 azimuthal angle θi and elevation angle φi combinations associated with each element of the vector, and selecting a selected area in an azimuth-elevation plane around a subset of the k1 azimuthal angle θi and elevation angle φi combinations for each element of the vector. Fine beamforming is performed in the selected area with a second set of k2 azimuthal angle θi and elevation angle φi combinations associated with each element of the vector. The second set of k2 azimuthal angle θi and elevation angle φi combinations is more closely spaced in the azimuth-elevation plane than the first set of k1 azimuthal angle θi and elevation angle φi combinations.