Continuous wave 16-microm laser performance was analyzed using a model based on a conventional CO(2) gasdynamic laser (GDL) and assuming that the intensity distribution of a 9.4-microm saturating beam is uniform. By injecting a cw 9A-microm [P(14)] beam with the power of a few kilowatts into the CO(2) GDL, a 16-microm small signal gain of more than 1% cm(-1) was achieved. A 16-microm beam with more than 2.0 W/cm(3) was obtainable on the P(15) line of the (02(0)0)-(01(1)0) transition. The conditions of the GDL were 15-atm optimum reservoir pressure and 1200 K temperature; the gas mixture was CO(2):N(2):H(2) = 20:73:7 (%), and the nozzle area ratio was 100. It was found that the efficient injection of the saturating beam can raise the 16-microm laser efficiency up to 10%. The 16-microm laser output characteristics are also presented here as a function of total power of the 9.4-microm injecting beam, the intensity, and the spot size.