Acting Defence Force chief Lieutenant General David Hurley named the soldier as Trooper Jason Brown, 29, a member of the Perth-based Special Air Service Regiment.

Lieutenant General Hurley on Saturday said Trooper Brown was shot overnight while assisting in a "disruption operation" in northern Kandahar.

Several insurgents engaged the coalition troops using small arms, and Trooper Brown suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

He received immediate first aid and was evacuated by helicopter to Kandahar, but died.

Lieutenant General Hurley expressed "deep regret" at the death.