A rogue Afghan soldier who shot and wounded three Australian soldiers almost two years ago has been tracked down and killed.

Mohammed Roozi was on duty in a guard tower in November 2011 when he opened fire on Australian and Afghan troops using an automatic weapon and a grenade launcher.

Following the attack at the joint patrol base Nasir at Charmistan, in Uruzgan province, Roozi escaped in an Afghan National Army vehicle.

Speaking on the campaign trail at the Robertson Barracks in Darwin today, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that Roozi was killed on Tuesday night (Afghan time).

"This combined operation followed months of focused intelligence and professional work by the Australian Defence Force in concert with the International Security Assistance Force," he told reporters.

Defence Force chief General David Hurley says Roozi was shot dead.

"As the team approached, Roozi threw a grenade. He was immediately engaged with small arms fire and killed," General Hurley said in a statement.

"Unfortunately one of the Afghan National Security Force members leading the clearance was slightly wounded when the grenade detonated."

Two Afghan soldiers were also wounded in the 2011 attack, which sparked questions about whether enough was being done to prevent rogue soldiers turning their weapons on their mentors.

General Hurley says Defence is committed to tracking down other rogue soldiers involved in so-called green-on-blue attacks.

"We continue to work with ISAF and ANSF authorities to detect and apprehend those who commit these insider attacks, including Hek Matullah, who is wanted for the murder of three Australian soldiers at Patrol Base Wahab in the Baluchi Valley region of Uruzgan in August 2012," he said.

Rudd pays tribute to courage and commitment of troops

During the flying visit to the barracks, Mr Rudd also paid tribute to the efforts of Australia's troops in theatres of war, including Afghanistan.

"The purpose of my coming here today is to thank you for your professionalism, your commitment, your sense of duty and the courage which so many of you have already shown in the field," he said.

"There is, in my view, no higher calling for any Australian than to wear the uniform of Australia, the uniform which you wear with such pride here today.

"Decisions on war and peace are grave decisions by any leader of this country ... but the price is paid by you our men and women in uniform and the loved ones who support you.

"We're proud of each and every one of you for what you've done."

Forty Australian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002; 39 with the Australian Defence Force and one with the British Armed Forces.