The present state of research concerning a cw chemical CO laser whose operation is based on a chain chemical reaction of carbon disulfide oxidation is describe. The role of various chemical-kinetics processes in CS2 oxidation in the gas phase is discussed mud the key processes are identified. Appropriate experimental techniques are described. The results of studies of the ~eld of laser emission from CO molecules containLng CS~, 02, and various additives in the optical resonator are ~ven. The energy-related c~haracteristics of various types of chemical CO lasers using subsonic and supersonic flows of reactive mixure are reported. The influence of a number of parameters on the energetic characteristics of the lasers is discussed.