The output of a high power pulsed or CW laser (22), which may be mounted
on a vehicle (17) is reflected from a convex mirror (27) to a concave
mirror (29) that is displaced radially outward on a rotating structure (14)
from the convex mirror by at least two beam diameters so that each pulse emanates
from a position around a circle which is displaced from adjacent pulses by at least
the diameter of the beam, thereby to minimize thermal blooming, or the position
of a CW output laser beam is slewed. Directing the beams so that all of them will
converge at a target area which is a given range from the apparatus is achieved
by moving the convex mirror axially in response to range control signals provided
through brushes (47) and slip rings (46). The rotating structure
(14) including the laser waveguide (24) is journaled by bearings
(50, 51) for rotation by a gear in response to a pinion (34) and
gear reduction (37) driven by a motor (38).