A multilayered (Ti, Al) ceramic hard coating was deposited on tunsten-carbide ball-nose end mills for high-speed machining using an unbalanced magnetron- sputtering system. The process parameter dependence of the coating properties was studied. X-ray diffractometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nanoindentation. and scratch tests were used to characterize the structural, compositional. and mechanical properties of the coatings. High hardness, up to 40 GPa; good adhesion strength, up to 100 N in scratch critical load; and high-oxidation resistance were achieved, leading to excellent performance in high-speed milling on hardened tool steel at a speed of 260 in min(-1). The results show that the tool life with this coating is improved by a factor of 4 or better under the testing conditions used compared to the uncoated tools. The surface finish of the machined steel achieved with this coating is also significantly better.