The number of soldiers in Scotland will increase but at a level far below previous suggestions, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Around 700 troops will be sent from Germany under plans expected to be revealed to MPs.
Former defence secretary Liam Fox announced in 2011 that the size of the Army in Scotland will increase from about 3,500 to 8,500.
He also outlined proposals for a new base at Kirknewton, near Edinburgh, but this is now expected to be dropped.
A spokesman for the MoD said: "We will make an announcement about our re-basing troops from Germany shortly but we expect the total numbers of soldiers in Scotland to increase. The final plans are based on military needs, make the best use of the existing defence estate and achieve the best value for money for the taxpayer."
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon raised her concerns at the weekend about the potential decrease in the number of returning personnel.
The SNP said it believed Defence Secretary Philip Hammond would not stick to the earlier pledge.
Ms Sturgeon said: "Scotland has already been disproportionately affected by the defence cuts and despite suggestions that there would be an increase of between 5,000 and 7,500 in the number of Army personnel based here, we now hear those commitments will not be met and that any increase may be limited to only a few hundred Army personnel.
"That will do little to halt the long-term and disproportionate decline in the overall numbers of military personnel in Scotland."
The MoD said Scotland "benefits greatly" from being part of the UK and claimed significant investment would not be guaranteed under independence.
