An ignition exciter system for igniting fuel in a gas turbine engine. The ignition exciter system includes a rechargeable energy source, at least one pulse-forming network coupled to the rechargeable energy source and generating a stored energy waveform from energy in the rechargeable energy source, at least one igniter plug coupled to the at least one pulse-forming network to receive the stored energy waveform and generating a spark in response to the received stored energy waveform.