A method is described for generating single millijoule pulses of nanosecond duration through use of a CO2laser mode‐locked with a Brewster angle, acousto‐optic modulator coupled with an electro‐optic switch (extinction ratio of 50 000:1) driven by a laser‐triggered spark gap. The Brewster angle geometry eliminates the damage problems associated with the use of AR‐coated normal incidence modulators.