The high‐repetition‐rate operation of a transversely excited atmospheric CO2laser pumped by an all‐solid‐state exciter consisting of a two‐stage magnetic pulse compressor has been tested. At a repetition‐rate frequency of 1 kpps, an average laser power of 250 W was obtained. A maximum repetition rate of 1.1 kpps was limited by either the capability of the switching power supply (20 kW) or the turn‐off time of the silicon controlled rectifier used (400 &mgr;s). The energy transfer efficiency of the exciter was 75%, and the overall laser efficiency was 3.2%. By changing the amount of the available magnetic flux swing of the cores used, 30% regulation on the input energy was also achieved with a constant energy transfer efficiency of 78%.