The Scottish Government's vision for "first-class" military forces in an independent Scotland will be outlined to the House of Commons Defence Committee today.

Scottish Veterans Minister Keith Brown is expected to stress Scotland's international reputation for defence products and the country's important geographic location in building international defence partnerships.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Brown said: "An independent Scotland will have first-class conventional forces which will play a full role in defending the country and co-operating with international partners.

"Scotland's defence companies invest considerable amounts in research and development and employ highly-skilled staff to provide products that are valued worldwide. Our strong supply chain supports defence and security in the UK and abroad.

"Scotland is in a key geo-strategic location in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, between the North Sea and the Iceland Gap, and as such international partners will be keen to co-operate with an independent Scotland on defence and security issues.

"It is already clear that there is an unacceptable current UK capability gap in Scotland when it comes to conventional naval patrol vessels and maritime patrol aircraft.

"Our North Sea neighbours all operate capable frigates, ocean patrol vessels, fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft and quick-reaction flights. Given the UK has non-existent or ageing capabilities in some of these areas, consideration of procurement options will be an early priority."

The minister is also expected to criticise cuts to defence by Westminster, and say that all service personnel should not face the threat of compulsory redundancy during their service contract.

"The UK Government's defence cuts have brought years of uncertainty to those who have given so much to protect us all. Our military and their families deserve better and that is why we will retain all defence bases in Scotland inherited at the time of independence.

"We should not leave our troops with poor footwear, or having to buy their own rations while on the frontline. We should not have the regiments they joined disbanded while on active service. Above all, we should not have our service personnel looking over their shoulder, while fighting a mortal enemy, to see if they are about to be handed a P45.

"Scottish ministers believe that all service personnel should therefore have the reassurance that they will not be faced with compulsory redundancy during their service contract.

"Scotland is entitled to a fair share of existing UK defence and security assets, and our long-term commitment will ensure continued support for jobs and local economies in all the communities around Scotland that are home to military bases. We will not squander billions of pounds on Trident nuclear weapons - and an independent and non-nuclear Scotland's membership of Nato would put the country alongside the 25 of the alliance's current 28 members which are non-nuclear powers.

"We are also taking steps to improve security in Scotland and this would continue upon independence. Intelligence sharing with the UK would be in the best interests of the people of Scotland and of the rest of the United Kingdom, and an independent Scottish domestic intelligence machinery would work closely with UK counterparts."