Human first: optimising future submarines for crew performance and wellbeing

We highlight the importance of the Human Factors discipline in empowering submariners for peak performance and well-being. This includes the need for a crew-centric design. Human Factors Integration (HFI) supports the management of change and optimisation of roles as technology evolves. It helps to de-risk the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Various applications are considered: AI as a teammate, reduction in workload, adaptation to fatigue, balancing tasks across teams, flexible crew roles, fostering agility. The presentation highlights the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement including the building of trust and joint ownership in evolving submarine solutions.