Abstract: The present invention relates to real time spectral analysis of wide-band sampled signals, in particular to a method and system for real time digital spectral analysis of wide-band sampled signals using parallel processing techniques. The center frequency of each received wide-band signal is shifted by a small fraction ? of its bandwidth. After sampling and digitizing, the wide-band signals are de-multiplexed into N parallel sample streams for parallel processing. The sample streams are digitally FIR filtered and sub-band signals are determined by decimating the sample streams by a factor of 2k·N;k=0,1, . . . , wherein only every 2k·Nth;k=0,1, . . . sample is retained and the others are discarded. These sub-band signals may then be processed using various methods of spectral analysis such as cross-correlation, auto-correlation or phased array applications. Any finite-length FIR filter has a finite transition band.