THREE Australian soldiers have been killed and seven wounded in an incident in Afghanistan.

The deaths come in the same month as those of sappers Darren Smith and Jacob Moerland and bring the tally of Australian deaths in Afghanistan to 16.

Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston has confirmed a coalition helicopter went down in Kandahar province, in the south of Afghanistan at about 3.30am local time (8.30am AEST). He said the operation remains ongoing and the exact details are uncertain.

He said it was "not the result of enemy action".

If it wasn't the result of enemy action then maybe the seven soldiers are injured rather than wounded