The development of the laser soon led to recognition of its potential in radar applications. As radar systems were designed and implemented, however, it became clear that major refinement of the laser sources was needed to meet specific radar transmitter requirements in terms of waveforms, spectral purity, stability, beam quality, and power. The sensitivity and bandwidth of receivers were also in some cases insufficient, and new enabling detector technologies had to be created. This article provides a framework for much of the component development by describing the wideband high-power carbon dioxide (CO/sub 2/) imaging radar system at the Firepond Laser Radar Research Facility. The paper also details the critical components developed for the Firepond CO/sub 2/ range-Doppler imaging laser radar transmitter as well as transmitters for short-range CO/sub 2/ radars.