A laser cladding head configured to receive weld material from a powder source and collimated light from a laser source , the laser cladding head comprising: a protective housing extending along a primary axis (Ap) from a proximal end to a distal end ; a focal array situated at the proximal end within the protective housing and oriented to receive and focus the collimated light in a laser beam directed substantially along the primary axis (A P ) , the focal array having a focal length; a turning mirror situated at the distal end within the protective housing and disposed to redirect the laser beam in an emission direction transverse to the primary axis (A P ), towards a target point (P T ) separated from the turning mirror by a working distance of at most a tenth of the focal length, the turning mirror comprising a nonfocal reflective surface indexable to alter an impingement location (P I ) of the laser beam on the turning mirror ; and a powder nozzle situated at the distal end within the protective housing and configured to receive and direct the weld material towards the target point (P T ) for melting by the laser beam , characterised in that : the turning mirror is rotatably anchored within the laser cladding head about a central mirror axis, and the impingement location (Pi) is offset from the central mirror axis such that the mirror is indexed by rotating the turning mirror to expose a new impingement location (P I ), and the laser cladding head further comprises: a temperature sensor disposed to sense changes in temperature of the turning mirror , the temperature sensor situated within or adjacent the turning mirror ; and a borescope extending along the primary axis (A P ), and having an imaging head at the distal end directed at the target point (P T ), in an imaging direction not parallel to the emission direction. a protective housing extending along a primary axis (Ap) from a proximal end to a distal end ; a focal array situated at the proximal end within the protective housing and oriented to receive and focus the collimated light in a laser beam directed substantially along the primary axis (A P ) , the focal array having a focal length; a turning mirror situated at the distal end within the protective housing and disposed to redirect the laser beam in an emission direction transverse to the primary axis (A P ), towards a target point (P T ) separated from the turning mirror by a working distance of at most a tenth of the focal length, the turning mirror comprising a nonfocal reflective surface indexable to alter an impingement location (P I ) of the laser beam on the turning mirror ; and a powder nozzle situated at the distal end within the protective housing and configured to receive and direct the weld material towards the target point (P T ) for melting by the laser beam , a temperature sensor disposed to sense changes in temperature of the turning mirror , the temperature sensor situated within or adjacent the turning mirror ; and a borescope extending along the primary axis (A P ), and having an imaging head at the distal end directed at the target point (P T ), in an imaging direction not parallel to the emission direction. <EOS>