The U.S. Air Force has completed a test flight of the Boeing-built Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system.

The ICBM platform with test re-entry vehicles traveled for approximately 4,200 miles and reached its target destination in the Marshall Islands after it launched Wednesday at 11:39 p.m. Pacific time from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Air Force reported Thursday.

Minuteman III is a land-based weapon system that works to deter nuclear threats.

A group of Air Force Global Strike Command personnel under the 91st missile wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota conducted the flight test.

Minot AFP is one of the service branch’s three missile installations responsible for the country’s ICBM alert forces.

The Defense Department works with the U.S. Strategic Command and the Energy Department to gather data from ICBM test launches for use in force development assessment efforts.

An internal report from the Department of Homeland Security says President Donald Trump’s plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border would cost up to $21.6 billion and take more than three years to complete, Reuters reported Thursday.

Julia Edwards Ainsley writes the report presents a higher figure than an initial $12 billion figure put forth by Trump and a $15 billion estimate from House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The proposed construction effort would occur in three phases through 2020 to build a 1,250-mile stretch of fences and walls that would extend the current 654-mile border with Mexico, Ainsley reported.

The report assumes Congress will provide funds by April or May, which aims to allow DHS to find contractors and start construction in September, Reuters stated.

The document also revealed that the U.S. government has begun to coordinate with existing contractors, plan for steel purchases and seek waivers for environmental laws.

U.S. Navy pilots have tested and trained with an updated helmet mounted display technology designed to increase fighter pilot awareness, targeting and sensor data viewing capacity of flight information such as airspeed, altitude and heading, Scout reported Thursday.

Kris Osborn writes sensors of the Generation “3 HMD” units were designed for pilots of the Lockheed Martin-built F-35C aircraft and equipped with new firmware that will work to help airmen conduct missions at night.

Strike Fighter Squadron 125 pilots have conducted development and operational pilot training on the F-35C aircraft since its arrival at Naval Air Station Lemoore, the report noted.

Lockheed said the helmet works to project the information that pilots need on the device’s visor and offers night vision via an integrated camera, according to the report.

Osborn reported the Navy’s training and continued technology development efforts also cover refinement work on the Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems technology slated for operational use in 2019.

Gen. Daniel Allyn, U.S. Army vice chief of staff, has told House Armed Services Committee members at a Tuesday hearing the service branch needs funds that will match authorized increase in end-strength levels to address training and equipping gaps.

The Army said Wednesday it found that only 50 percent of division headquarters, nearly 33 percent of the brigade combat teams and 25 percent of combat aviation brigades meet combat readiness requirements to fight within a 30-day period.

The service branch added that three out of 58 brigade combat teams can be immediately deployed in the event of a crisis.

Allyn called on Congress to repeal the 2011 Budget Control Act, discontinue “continuing resolutions” and offer a budget that can equip, man and train the new Army end strength authorized under the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

The NDAA authorized the addition of approximately 12,000 units to the Army Reserve component and increased the active end strength of the service branch to 476,000.

The general also urged lawmakers to authorize funding flexibility for cyber programs to help operators become more agile and responsive in offensive and defensive cyber operations.

Allyn added the service branch supports base relocation and closure efforts and proposed to reallocate funds for  excess facilities on installations.