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Dramatic footage has emerged of a US warship shooting down a missile in space with a spectacular intercept weapon.

The video, released by the US Navy, shows the USS John Finn attempting to hit a medium-range ballistic missile.

A similar experiment earlier in the year failed but this time it manages to successfully hit the missile in space.

The SM-3 Block, dubbed 'Kill Vehicle,' reportedly uses brute force as opposed to an explosive warhead to eliminate its target, with the firm who make the missile claiming it hits its target with the power of a 'ten-tonne truck' travelling at '600mph'.

The technique has been likened to hitting a bullet with another bullet, which is why this test was dubbed a "superb accomplishment" by a US Navy official.

(Image: Missile Defence Agency)

(Image: Missile Defence Agency) (Image: Missile Defence Agency)

The target was a test missile launched from Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii.

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said: "Sailors aboard USS John Finn successfully conducted an intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target with a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile during a flight test off the west coast of Hawaii."

The 'Kill Vehicle' is being "developed cooperatively by the US and Japan" and will form part of America's coastline defence.

“This was a superb accomplishment and key milestone for the SM-3 Block IIA return to flight,” said Lt. General Sam Greaves.

“My congratulations to the entire team, including our sailors, industry partners, and allies who helped achieve this milestone.”

(Image: Missile Defence Agency) (Image: Missile Defence Agency)

This is the second time the weapon has been been successfully tested, following two consecutive failures.

"Based on observations and initial data review, the test met its objectives, according to the Agency. Program officials will continue to evaluate the system’s performance," the MDA's statement said.

The first successful test of this particular SM-3 Block happened in February 2017 but the two after that failed, with the latest coming in January this year.

The weapon can be launched from land or sea and, according to the Missile Defense Agency, will form a key part of the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense system.

The successful test of the 'Kill Vehicle' is likely to send a warning to both North Korea and Russia.