One of Scotland’s most famous army regiments is to move into the Leuchars military base, The Courier has learned.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will announce the UK Government’s basing review, which will see troops relocate from Germany.
A source has revealed the Scots Dragoon Guards will be one of two units to move to Fife by the end of 2016, the other being a REME Battalion.
The source also said the RAF will maintain operational airfields at Leuchars and Kinloss. The Fife airfield has in the past been used when RAF Lossiemouth, the only airbase in Scotland to be saved under Government plans, has closed due to bad weather and the air force has always pressed to have viable diversion, or back-up, runways it can use.
A defence source said: “Edinburgh,Kinloss, and Leuchers will all benefit from a major army presence.
“We have already moved over 700 personnel into Kinloss and will be moving two major units into Leuchars as part of a £100 million investment in new infrastructure in Scotland.
“This is in stark contrast to the uncertain future of the SNP’s back-of-the envelope defence plan for an independent Scotland, which is long on promises and short of the resources to deliver them.”
The source continued: “If the SNP had their way, thousands of defence jobs and millions of pounds of investment in Scotland would be at risk.
“Instead of certainty and security, all the SNP offers is a wing and a prayer. They would not make us safer but leave us less well defended and less secure.”
Mr Hammond is expected to say today that the majority of troops will be back by on home soil by the end of 2016, with around 4,500 left to return in 2019.
They will be based across the UK but there will be seven major concentrations, one of which will be an adaptable brigade: infantry brigade for Edinburgh and Leuchars and will provide the two units for Fife.
Sources said it is expected there will be a seamless transfer of Leuchars to the army in 2015.
As part of the plan to be unveiled today to rebase the army from Germany, it is also expected that Scotland will see the army retain a number of locations in Edinburgh, with Dreghorn Barracks to be retained for infantry and part of Redford also to be retained.
It is also expected that Kinloss will receive another squadron of engineers.
The Courier revealed that around £60 million is to be spent improving the Leuchars military base under Government plans.
Scotland is going to receive new investment in accommodation and facilities as part of the basing plan, which sources claim will give the UK economy a £1.8 billion boost.
Defence insiders have revealed there is to be a 20% increase in army personnel in Scotland there are 3,200 soldiers as a result of the closure of Britain’s two barracks in Germany.
They have also confirmed a share of the 17,000 troops in Germany would be located at the refurbished Leuchars base, giving “security” to the future of the armed forces in Scotland.
An MoD spokesperson said Scotland “benefits greatly” from being part of the UK’s defence initiative.
The spokesperson added: “This significant investment would not be guaranteed under an independent Scotland. It is clear that we are safer and more secure together as a United Kingdom.”