An intelligent backhaul radio that has an advanced antenna system for use in PTP or PMP topologies. The advanced antenna system includes a plurality of directional antenna arrays, wherein each directional antenna array includes a plurality of directional antenna sub-arrays, and wherein each directional antenna sub-array includes a plurality of directional antenna elements. At least one of the plurality of directional antenna arrays includes at least one first directional antenna sub-array, said first directional antenna sub-array including a first number of directional antenna elements. At least one of the plurality of directional antenna arrays includes at least one second directional antenna sub-array, said second directional antenna sub-array including a second number of directional antenna elements. The first number is different than the second number.