An Australian special operations soldier has been killed and four others wounded during a firefight with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Father-of-two Lance Corporal Jason Marks, 27, of the Sydney-based 4RAR (Commando) unit, was named as the dead soldier by Defence Force chief Angus Houston at a media briefing this morning.

Lance Corporal Marks was in the lead platoon preparing for a "company-level" assault 25 kilometres to the south-east of Tarin Kowt when they were attacked by the Taliban, Air Chief Marshal Houston said.