The following databases are good starting points for military and defense research. For a more complete list, try the A-Z databases page.
Free Resource
The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. The reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.
Free Resource
Some content on this platform has been removed in accordance with the President Trump''s executive orders and DHS Priorities (as of May 2025). The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Digital Library includes material from Federal, State, international and private sources related to security policy, strategy, and management. Content is primarily current with some historical material. To access the Restricted Collection and take advantage of special options, users must set up an individual HSDL account
Paid for by K-State Libraries
A full-text collection of journals ranging from history to business to literature to science and mathematics. Coverage begins with the first issue of a title, but the most recent three to five years of each title are usually not available. The full article text is searchable. Images are available for searching as well.
Paid for by K-State Libraries
Current news pertaining to all branches of the military and government. Contains nearly 300 full-text periodicals and journals dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Indexes and abstracts available for 400 additional journals.
For a more complete list of agencies, please see the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.
Defense and Security Agencies
Branches of the Military
These websites discuss some of the key issues facing the U.S. military.
Key Issues