The battlespace environment presents a distinct set of issues that have been a challenge historically for information technologies (IT) and traditional architectural approaches. The inherent demands of the battlespace include the availability and reliability of information systems, with appropriate and available bandwidth for data transference, and total security. The emergence of service oriented architectures (SOA) and web services present a means of bringing a high degree of standardisation to the fore. Such an approach can deliver long-term benefits and enable defence forces to embrace and utilise new functionality rapidly and as cost-effectively as possible.