Abstract: A visible, or near to mid infra-red, hypersonic gasdynamic laser system incorporated in a hypersonic vehicle which provides high enthalpy ram air for thermodynamic excitation of the laser gases. The hypersonic vehicle defines therein a laser cavity, and ram air directed therethrough supports gasdynamic lasing operations at wavelengths less than 10.6 .mu. meters. An optical train collects the laser radiation from the laser cavity and directs it as a substantially collimated laser beam to an output aperture defined by an opening in the hypersonic aircraft too allow the laser beam to be directed against a target. The present invention is particularly applicable to a hypersonic vehicle powered by a supersonic combustion ramjet engine. Electrical energy is also produced on-board the vehicle, using ram air, or ram air plus fuel combustion, as the power source and an electrical turbogenerator (or another equivalent electrical generator) connected to a supersonic turbine.