Almost half of people believe it would be bad for Scotland to break away from the UK Armed Forces if the country becomes independent, according to a poll.
The YouGov survey, commissioned by the Better Together campaign, questioned 1011 people in the two days after First Minister Alex Salmond and Prime Minister David Cameron signed an agreement on the independence referendum.
The results show that 49% of respondents believe it would be bad for Scotland if it no longer played a part in the UK Armed Forces, in the event of a Yes vote in the 2014 referendum.
Over a fifth (21%) said it would be good for Scotland, while 22% said it would be neither good or bad and 8% were unsure.
The poll has been published by Better Together in the wake of a divisive debate on an independent Scotland's future membership of Nato at the SNP's annual conference.
The SNP leadership narrowly faced down an internal rebellion over its bid to overturn the party's long-standing opposition to Nato, meaning it will apply to keep Scotland in the treaty if it is elected to lead the first post-independence government.
Frankie Caldwell MBE, a retired Royal Tank Regiment Captain, said: "The SNP looked like they were all having a lot of fun over the last few days at their conference debating the issue of Nato.
"However, once again, they are totally out of step with what people in this country think is important.
"They don't care about motions, rebellions or leadership battles. They care about the UK Army, our Navy and our Royal Air Force. They don't want to see them broken up.
"What has been most alarming to me about this whole separation debate in relation to defence is that the SNP have not come forward with any details whatsoever about a separate Scotland's armed forces.
"People are really worried about losing the UK armed forces and the silence from Scottish ministers on their defence plans just raises that anxiety further.
"Right now, we have young men and women from across Scotland serving their country around the world.
"They are standing, as they have always done, shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues from across the UK and the Commonwealth.
"Ripping up all that expertise, ripping up all that history and experience for the sake of Alex Salmond's vanity project makes no sense to me."
Veterans Minister Keith Brown, who served with 45 Commando Royal Marines during the Falklands conflict, said: "After a decade of Westminster decline in Scotland's military footprint, independence now offers Scotland the opportunity of a defence dividend.
"It is disingenuous for politicians in the No campaign to talk down Scotland's defence industrial prospects while ignoring their own record which has seen 11,000 military job losses and a mammoth £5.6bn underspend in Scotland.
"At our conference in Perth, the SNP set out proposals that will deliver an increase of service personnel in Scotland, restore and protect Scottish units and bases as well as address significant UK capability gaps.
"By setting out such an ambitious and positive agenda it is now incumbent on other parties to lay out their plans, in as much detail."
Meanwhile, Better Together has published a YouGov poll which shows that over half (52%) of people believe Scotland would be worse-off economically if the country were to become independent.
Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour deputy leader, said: "The SNP have spent the last few weeks quoting a variety of statistics and sources in a desperate attempt to convince voters that somehow, miraculously, money will fall from the skies if we vote to break up Britain.
"The truth of the matter is that we are better together as part of the United Kingdom.
"These are uncertain economic times, everyone knows that. The one thing that you don't do when things are uncertain is start gambling with your future, your country's future or your children's future."
A spokesman for the Yes Scotland campaign said: "All the official figures show quite clearly that Scotland is stronger financially compared to the UK as a whole.
"People in Scotland are seeking information and over the next two years we are confident that, as the choices become clearer, the economic and social benefits of an independent Scotland will lead to a Yes vote in 2014."
