AUSTRALIAN Defence uniforms have been issued with a badge misspelling the name of the country.

Navy officers serving in the Middle East were kitted out with the uniforms with the badge carrying an extra "L" in the word Australian, Seven News reported.



The blunder has shocked the RSL and raised the issue of Defence gear being produced offshore.



Seven reported a Tasmanian firm had outsourced the badge production to a Hong Kong factory.



"Serving in the defence force, one thing you're extremely proud of is your uniform and what you represent," New South Wales RSL president Don Rowe told Seven News.



Shadow Defence Minister David Johnston has previously campaigned for defence uniforms to made in Australia.



"To have a badge on their upper arm that misspells our country ... it doesn't get any worse than that," he said.

US defence uniforms are required to be manufactured on American soil.



His disgust was echoed by the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union's Barry Tubner.



"If that product was made in Australia, there's no way even one of them would have got out of the factory," he said.



News.com.au has sought comment from the badge's manufacturer.

The Department of Defence was unable to comment this evening.



The revelation comes just days after the news Victorian clothing manufacturer Australian Defence Apparel had been sold to an international alliance.



The firm makes uniforms for the Australian Army and emergency services.

Originally published as Advance Australlia wear? Navy typo shock