Supacat and Distance Technologies Sign Framework Agreement to Enable Aerospace-Grade HUD Capability Across the Entire Supacat HMT Ground Vehicle Platform

4 June, 2026 — Helsinki — Distance Technologies™, the leading developer of computational optics-based mixed reality systems for demanding defence environments, and Supacat™, the British high-mobility vehicle specialist and supplier to global defence forces, today announced the signing of a landmark three-year Framework Agreement. Covering the integration of the patented Distance glasses-free Augmented Reality (AR) and computational optics stack throughout Supacat’s High Mobility Transporter (HMT) platform family, this represents a revolutionary new tech upgrade for land-based combat vehicles.

Supacat’s recent Capability Day in Farnborough, UK was the catalyst for signing the agreement, where Distance simultaneously demonstrated its Field Operator HUD integrated directly into Supacat’s HMT platform in front of British military officials and defence stakeholders. The collaboration combines Distance’s computational optics and mixed reality technology with Supacat’s combat-proven HMT platform architecture and broader battlefield systems ecosystem, including integration pathways through Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) environments.

The live demonstration generated strong interest from the entire UK defence community and validated the operational maturity of the integrated system in a real-world field environment. Under the agreement, Distance becomes Supacat’s exclusive supplier of AR and computational optic solutions for navigation, safety, and situational awareness across the global HMT fleet of approximately 1,000 vehicles, subject to UK Ministry of Defence and other global Defence organizations demand and procurement intent.

The agreement establishes the commercial and operational framework governing future procurement activity, including purchase orders, product delivery, warranties, intellectual property rights, joint demonstrations, and cooperative business development efforts. The announcement marks a significant evolution of the strategic collaboration first revealed at DSEI London 2025, when Distance and Supacat unveiled what they described as the world’s first integration of an aerospace-grade JetFighter HUD™ into a high-mobility ground platform.

Built directly into the driver’s line-of-sight, Distance’s Field Operator HUD enables operators to access mission-critical information without diverting attention to secondary displays. The system projects navigation, inclinometer, vehicle telemetry, thermal sensor feeds, mission overlays, and situational awareness data, delivering the same heads-up tactical advantage long associated with fighter aircraft.

The solution also supports hyperspectral sensor fusion across visible, infrared, and thermal wavelengths. Designed specifically for demanding battlefield and mobility environments, the system enhances safety, manoeuvrability, survivability, and speed of decision-making while preserving full environmental awareness under day, night, smoke, and degraded-visibility conditions.

“As soon as Supacat was introduced to the advanced HUD capabilities developed by Distance Technologies, it was obvious there was a clear operational utility for our end users that enhances safety of the crew and dismounted soldiers in what can be at times a chaotic scenario”said Phil Applegarth, Director and Head of Supacat. “What began as a highly innovative demonstration programme has now matured into a long-term collaboration with meaningful relevance for future capability development only made possible by the Distance technology stack. The successful Capability Day demonstration reinforced the value of providing operators with crew with provable dismount safety around the chaos of training at night or during live fire mission operations.”

“Over the past year, we have rapidly deployed from a concept demonstration to a formal commercial framework supporting future deployment opportunities with Supacat,” said Urho Konttori, Co-Founder and CEO of Distance Technologies. “The response during Capability Day completely validated the operational demand for intuitive, real-time situational awareness systems that reduce cognitive burden while improving operator effectiveness and survivability. Together with Supacat, we are now enabling drivers and command personnel to access critical mission and vehicle data directly in their field of view — bringing aerospace-grade perception and battlefield awareness into the next-generation of ground platforms.”

The companies confirmed they will continue joint demonstrations and business development activities throughout 2026, including at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, where Distance and Supacat will demonstrate its Field Operator HUD technology for international defence audiences

About Distance Technologies

Distance Technologies Ltd (Helsinki) is Europe’s counterpart to the new wave of defense and dual-use technology platforms focused on delivering superhuman perception. We build the world’s most advanced computational optics, AI-driven lightfield systems and visual intelligence for defense, automotive, and aerospace use cases.

Our technology turns periscopes, windshields, helmet mounts, or even handheld devices into a transparent mixed-reality sensor that fuses hyperspectral/multispectral data, thermal imagery, and 3D lightfields into a single infinite-depth HUD – merging mission-critical data seamlessly with the real world. The result: enhanced safety, faster situational awareness, decisive action, greater survivability and superior maneuverability in any environment. Designed to meet the highest standards of European sovereignty and operational safety, Distance delivers the perception layer that goes the distance —on the battlefield and in everyday usage alike.