Legitimacy and Acceptance of Quantum Technologies Among Potential Naval Users in the Danish Armed Forces

The Danish Armed Forces have recently turned their attention towards the innovative and disruptive potential of quantum technology (QT) bringing technological challenges and requiring careful consideration of user-related perspectives. In this paper, such perspectives are investigated through the concepts of legitimacy and technology acceptance among potential users in the Danish military. Using a phenomenological methodology, interviews are conducted with four former or current officers in the naval division of Mine Counter Measures Denmark, representing potential users, and analyzed using a theoretical framework. The analysis both indicates pragmatic legitimacy to be particularly important and identifies strategies for gaining such legitimacy. It further shows two factors, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, to be connected to the performance of QTs in operational settings, and suggests that the presence of these factors can improve their acceptance. Finally, certain strategies to gain legitimacy are found to influence the perceived usefulness and ease of use of QTs. In conclusion, legitimacy and acceptance of QTs are found to be significant and can be gained by aligning the application of these technologies with the solution of operational tasks. Serving to establish prominent user perspectives, the paper paves the way for further studies of QTs and similar emerging technologies in the Danish Armed Forces.