Cyber security issues are clearly emerging as a priority.

Coastal protection is a high priority for Scotland It has been neglected and requires an increase in off-shore patrol vessels and personnel.

The proposed SDF should be designed for flexibility with a modest core capability that can be adapted to changed circumstances.  The SDF's cost will be substantially less than that assigned to Scotland currently by the UK Government.

Nuclear weapons will be a major challenge in transition negotiations. 

The questions that would face an independent Scotland in the area of defence and security are political ones, rather than whether Scotland has the long-term capacity to defend its citizens or its immediate strategic neighbourhood. Of course, further analysis of defence capabilities is necessary, such as the need to explore the repositioning of NATO and Scotland’s role outwith its immediate strategic ambit, the impact of removing Trident on the SDF’s transition, and the impact of Brexit on an independent Scotland’s defence alliances and rUK relations.