[editor-surveyor]

.
X-ray lasers have far less losses than wire cables.
(but everything has losses)

My infra red laser EDMs shoot miles with hundredths of a watt of power.

[palmer]

They hold a beam on target for 30 seconds while flying over, or circling? In any case a 10 second pulsed beam would probably be enough. A steady beam would not work (if that's indeed what the video shows) becuse it would create a plasma cloud that would heat up instead of the item the beam is supposed to melt.

My infra red laser EDMs shoot miles with hundredths of a watt of power.

Sure but it doesn't cut anything without 1000 Watts. The losses are mostly generating the beam, efficiency is typically less than 50%. My energy issue is not whether you can cut some steel or start a fire with your laser, I have no doubt you can do that. The issue is whether you can melt a wheel with a laser. You cannot without 250kW (times two because of losses) with time on target of 10 seconds. If you only have one second on target then you need a 5MW power supply. Not possible except with a giant transport aircraft.

The "evidence" of melted wheels does not support DEW. Not enough energy.