Last month, troops began testing the so-called quadruped robotic platform at California's Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre (MCAGCC).

The exercise saw the agile bot showing off its moves before a rocket launcher test-fire situation was initiated.

US Marines shot a M72 LAW unguided anti-tank weapon from the goat's back, while the unit was secured between sandbags for safety.

Deployment of the robots could allow human counterparts to stay covered while the goat attacks the enemy.

According to an official report of the exercise, the Tactical Training and Exercise Control group (TTECG), in concert with the Office of Naval Research (ONR), “test fired an M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon rocket launcher from the robotic goat”.

The report added: “The robotic goat can carry various sensors or weapon systems that a Marine would otherwise carry.”

A marine spokesman said that the goat would not fire the rocket itself. An operator could be behind cover and concealment and the goat could go forward and get closer to its target.

No timeline has been given for deploying robotic goats, but the exercise gives "Marines the opportunity to test emerging technology in an unscripted force-on-force exercise".