diff --git a/src/app/watchtower/_data/watchtower-data.ts b/src/app/watchtower/_data/watchtower-data.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6419d76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/watchtower/_data/watchtower-data.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+export const watchtowerOverview = {
+  eyebrow: "Watchtower route / Alert digest",
+  title: "Scan alert drift, service health, and operator notes before the next rotation.",
+  description:
+    "The watchtower route compresses high-signal alerts, short health summaries, and operator context into a single handoff view for the next duty lead.",
+  digestWindow: "Digest window · 18:00 to 22:00 UTC",
+  focusNote:
+    "Two critical digests still need explicit operator approval before automation can widen traffic again.",
+  reviewWindow: "22:20 UTC",
+  shiftLead: "Shift lead · N. Alvarez",
+};
+
+export const watchtowerAlerts = [
+  {
+    severity: "critical" as const,
+    service: "Orbital relay mesh",
+    title: "Fallback relays are saturating the north relay spine.",
+    scope: "21 relays / 3 regions",
+    owner: "M. Chen",
+    digest:
+      "Queue pressure crossed the auto-shed threshold twice after the west mesh reroute, so traffic is holding on manual trims until the next clean sample.",
+    nextStep: "Approve a 12-minute route trim before 22:20 UTC.",
+    affectedSystems: ["mesh-east-2", "north-spine cache", "fallback batch 4"],
+  },
+  {
+    severity: "elevated" as const,
+    service: "Payload scanner lane",
+    title: "Scanner calibration drift is slowing parcel verification.",
+    scope: "4 scanner cells",
+    owner: "R. Singh",
+    digest:
+      "Verification retries climbed to 8.3% after the last firmware pull, which is still within failover range but now exceeding the shift target.",
+    nextStep: "Hold inbound surges until calibration pass C finishes.",
+    affectedSystems: ["scan-west-4", "handoff queue", "firmware mirror"],
+  },
+  {
+    severity: "critical" as const,
+    service: "Manifest handoff",
+    title: "Manifest receipts are arriving behind the operator review window.",
+    scope: "2 late cutover lanes",
+    owner: "L. Ortega",
+    digest:
+      "Late receipts are not dropping traffic, but they are now compressing the audit review window enough to threaten the next automated closeout.",
+    nextStep: "Keep closeout manual for the next two digest cycles.",
+    affectedSystems: ["receipt stream", "lane-c7", "audit closeout bot"],
+  },
+];
+
+export const watchtowerHealthSummaries = [
+  {
+    tone: "risk" as const,
+    title: "Relay mesh health",
+    signal: "Capacity margin 68%",
+    owner: "Transit network",
+    summary:
+      "Manual trims are keeping the mesh stable, but the reserve margin is now thin enough that another burst would force wider shedding.",
+    recommendation: "Keep bulk traffic capped until relay drift clears.",
+  },
+  {
+    tone: "watch" as const,
+    title: "Verification lane health",
+    signal: "Retry rate 8.3%",
+    owner: "Dock systems",
+    summary:
+      "Scanner throughput is still acceptable for current volume, although the current retry profile will create queue drag if inbound demand spikes.",
+    recommendation: "Finish calibration pass C before lifting intake caps.",
+  },
+  {
+    tone: "stable" as const,
+    title: "Operator coverage health",
+    signal: "Coverage confidence 94%",
+    owner: "Shift command",
+    summary:
+      "Crew overlap and specialist coverage remain strong enough to absorb manual interventions without extending the next handoff.",
+    recommendation: "Use the reserve reviewer to shadow critical receipts only.",
+  },
+];
+
+export const watchtowerOperatorNotes = [
+  {
+    status: "tracking" as const,
+    channel: "Ops chat",
+    author: "N. Alvarez",
+    time: "21:42 UTC",
+    note: "Keep the north relay trim manual until queue depth stays below 68% for two consecutive samples.",
+    followUp: "Review after the 22:10 UTC digest snapshot.",
+  },
+  {
+    status: "queued" as const,
+    channel: "Dock review",
+    author: "R. Singh",
+    time: "21:37 UTC",
+    note: "Bundle scanner drift updates into one operator post so the incoming shift does not chase duplicate recalibration notes.",
+    followUp: "Publish a single rollup before handoff.",
+  },
+  {
+    status: "closed" as const,
+    channel: "Audit lane",
+    author: "L. Ortega",
+    time: "21:31 UTC",
+    note: "Receipt lag is manageable as long as the closeout bot stays paused and lane C7 remains on a human review path.",
+    followUp: "Confirm pause state in the 22:20 UTC review.",
+  },
+];
diff --git a/src/app/watchtower/page.test.tsx b/src/app/watchtower/page.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6982e3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/watchtower/page.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+import { render, screen, within } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  watchtowerAlerts,
+  watchtowerHealthSummaries,
+  watchtowerOperatorNotes,
+  watchtowerOverview,
+} from "./_data/watchtower-data";
+import WatchtowerPage from "./page";
+
+describe("WatchtowerPage", () => {
+  it("renders the route shell headings, pulse copy, and primary actions", () => {
+    render(<WatchtowerPage />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: watchtowerOverview.title })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(watchtowerOverview.digestWindow)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(watchtowerOverview.shiftLead)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("heading", {
+        name: /alert digest cards built for the next operator handoff/i,
+      }),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("heading", {
+        name: /short health summaries for the systems that shape the handoff/i,
+      }),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("link", { name: /jump to alert digest/i }),
+    ).toHaveAttribute("href", "#watchtower-digest");
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("link", { name: /review health summaries/i }),
+    ).toHaveAttribute("href", "#watchtower-health");
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("link", { name: /back to route index/i }),
+    ).toHaveAttribute("href", "/");
+  });
+
+  it("renders every alert digest card with scope, ownership, systems, and next steps", () => {
+    render(<WatchtowerPage />);
+
+    const alertList = screen.getByRole("list", { name: /watchtower alert digest cards/i });
+
+    expect(alertList.querySelectorAll(':scope > [role="listitem"]')).toHaveLength(
+      watchtowerAlerts.length,
+    );
+
+    for (const alert of watchtowerAlerts) {
+      const card = within(alertList)
+        .getByRole("heading", { name: alert.title })
+        .closest('[role="listitem"]');
+
+      expect(card).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(alert.service);
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(alert.scope);
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(alert.owner);
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(alert.nextStep);
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(alert.affectedSystems[0]);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("renders health summaries with signals, owners, and recommendations", () => {
+    render(<WatchtowerPage />);
+
+    const healthSection = screen.getByLabelText(/watchtower health summaries/i);
+    const healthList = within(healthSection).getByRole("list", { name: /watchtower health summary cards/i });
+
+    expect(within(healthList).getAllByRole("listitem")).toHaveLength(
+      watchtowerHealthSummaries.length,
+    );
+
+    for (const summary of watchtowerHealthSummaries) {
+      expect(within(healthSection).getByText(summary.title)).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(within(healthSection).getByText(summary.signal)).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(within(healthSection).getByText(summary.owner)).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(within(healthSection).getByText(summary.recommendation)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    }
+
+    expect(within(healthSection).getByText("Stable")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(healthSection).getByText("Watch")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(healthSection).getByText("Risk")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("renders the operator notes rail with the handoff anchor and every note entry", () => {
+    render(<WatchtowerPage />);
+
+    const notesRail = screen.getByLabelText(/operator notes rail/i);
+    const noteList = within(notesRail).getByRole("list", { name: /watchtower operator note entries/i });
+
+    expect(within(notesRail).getByText(watchtowerOverview.focusNote)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      within(notesRail).getByText(`Review window · ${watchtowerOverview.reviewWindow}`),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(noteList.querySelectorAll(':scope > [role="listitem"]')).toHaveLength(
+      watchtowerOperatorNotes.length,
+    );
+
+    for (const note of watchtowerOperatorNotes) {
+      const card = within(noteList)
+        .getByText(note.author)
+        .closest('[role="listitem"]');
+
+      expect(card).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(note.channel);
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(note.time);
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(note.note);
+      expect(card?.textContent).toContain(note.followUp);
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/watchtower/page.tsx b/src/app/watchtower/page.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..420b1ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/watchtower/page.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,307 @@
+import type { Metadata } from "next";
+import Link from "next/link";
+
+import {
+  watchtowerAlerts,
+  watchtowerHealthSummaries,
+  watchtowerOperatorNotes,
+  watchtowerOverview,
+} from "./_data/watchtower-data";
+
+export const metadata: Metadata = {
+  title: "Watchtower",
+  description:
+    "Alert digest cards, service health summaries, and a compact operator notes rail for the next shift handoff.",
+};
+
+const alertToneClasses = { critical: "border-rose-400/35 bg-rose-500/10", elevated: "border-amber-300/35 bg-amber-300/10", watch: "border-cyan-300/35 bg-cyan-400/10" };
+const alertToneLabels = { critical: "Critical", elevated: "Elevated", watch: "Watch" };
+const healthToneClasses = { stable: "border-emerald-300/25 bg-emerald-300/10", watch: "border-amber-300/25 bg-amber-300/10", risk: "border-rose-300/25 bg-rose-400/10" };
+const healthToneLabels = { stable: "Stable", watch: "Watch", risk: "Risk" };
+const noteStatusClasses = { queued: "border-amber-300/25 bg-amber-300/10", tracking: "border-cyan-300/25 bg-cyan-300/10", closed: "border-slate-400/25 bg-slate-400/10" };
+const noteStatusLabels = { queued: "Queued", tracking: "Tracking", closed: "Closed" };
+
+export default function WatchtowerPage() {
+  const criticalAlerts = watchtowerAlerts.filter(
+    (alert) => alert.severity === "critical",
+  ).length;
+  const attentionSummaries = watchtowerHealthSummaries.filter(
+    (summary) => summary.tone !== "stable",
+  ).length;
+  const openNotes = watchtowerOperatorNotes.filter(
+    (note) => note.status !== "closed",
+  ).length;
+
+  const handoffStats = [
+    { label: "Critical digests", value: String(criticalAlerts), detail: "Need explicit approval before automated widening resumes." },
+    { label: "Attention summaries", value: String(attentionSummaries), detail: "Systems showing watch or risk posture during this digest window." },
+    { label: "Open notes", value: String(openNotes), detail: "Operator follow-ups still active for the incoming rotation." },
+  ];
+
+  return (
+    <main className="min-h-screen bg-[radial-gradient(circle_at_top_left,rgba(251,191,36,0.18),transparent_26%),radial-gradient(circle_at_top_right,rgba(34,211,238,0.16),transparent_24%),linear-gradient(180deg,#07111d_0%,#0c1728_45%,#020617_100%)] px-6 py-12 text-slate-50 sm:px-10 lg:px-16">
+      <div className="mx-auto flex w-full max-w-7xl flex-col gap-6">
+        <header
+          className="overflow-hidden rounded-[2rem] border border-white/10 bg-[linear-gradient(145deg,rgba(15,23,42,0.88),rgba(7,14,26,0.95))] p-8 shadow-[0_34px_120px_rgba(2,6,23,0.42)] backdrop-blur sm:p-10"
+        >
+          <div className="grid gap-6 xl:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1.18fr)_minmax(300px,0.82fr)]">
+            <div className="space-y-5">
+              <p className="text-sm font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.28em] text-amber-100/80">
+                {watchtowerOverview.eyebrow}
+              </p>
+              <h1 className="max-w-4xl text-4xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-balance text-white sm:text-5xl lg:text-6xl">
+                {watchtowerOverview.title}
+              </h1>
+              <p className="max-w-3xl text-base leading-8 text-slate-200 sm:text-lg">
+                {watchtowerOverview.description}
+              </p>
+
+              <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 sm:flex-row">
+                <a
+                  href="#watchtower-digest"
+                  className="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-amber-300 px-5 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-950 transition hover:bg-amber-200"
+                >
+                  Jump to alert digest
+                </a>
+                <a
+                  href="#watchtower-health"
+                  className="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-white/14 bg-white/8 px-5 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-100 transition hover:border-cyan-300/35 hover:bg-white/12"
+                >
+                  Review health summaries
+                </a>
+                <Link
+                  href="/"
+                  className="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-white/14 bg-slate-950/30 px-5 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-100 transition hover:border-white/28 hover:bg-slate-900/60"
+                >
+                  Back to route index
+                </Link>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+            <aside className="rounded-[1.6rem] border border-white/10 bg-[linear-gradient(180deg,rgba(15,23,42,0.78),rgba(8,15,30,0.94))] p-6 shadow-[0_24px_80px_rgba(2,6,23,0.26)]">
+              <p className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.24em] text-slate-400">
+                Handoff pulse
+              </p>
+              <p className="mt-3 text-lg font-semibold text-white">
+                {watchtowerOverview.digestWindow}
+              </p>
+              <p className="mt-3 text-sm leading-7 text-slate-200">
+                {watchtowerOverview.focusNote}
+              </p>
+              <p className="mt-4 text-sm font-medium text-cyan-100">
+                {watchtowerOverview.shiftLead}
+              </p>
+              <div className="mt-5 grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-3">
+                {handoffStats.map((stat) => (
+                  <article
+                    key={stat.label}
+                    className="rounded-[1.2rem] border border-white/10 bg-white/6 px-4 py-4"
+                  >
+                    <p className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-slate-400">
+                      {stat.label}
+                    </p>
+                    <p className="mt-2 text-2xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-white">
+                      {stat.value}
+                    </p>
+                    <p className="mt-2 text-sm leading-6 text-slate-300">
+                      {stat.detail}
+                    </p>
+                  </article>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </aside>
+          </div>
+        </header>
+
+        <div className="grid gap-6 xl:grid-cols-[minmax(0,1.14fr)_minmax(300px,0.86fr)] xl:items-start">
+          <div className="space-y-6">
+            <section
+              aria-label="Watchtower alert digest"
+              className="rounded-[1.9rem] border border-white/10 bg-[linear-gradient(180deg,rgba(15,23,42,0.8),rgba(8,15,30,0.94))] p-6 shadow-[0_28px_90px_rgba(2,6,23,0.24)]"
+              id="watchtower-digest"
+            >
+              <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 lg:flex-row lg:items-end lg:justify-between">
+                <div className="space-y-2">
+                  <p className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.24em] text-slate-400">
+                    Alert digest cards
+                  </p>
+                  <h2 className="text-3xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-white sm:text-4xl">
+                    Alert digest cards built for the next operator handoff
+                  </h2>
+                </div>
+                <p className="max-w-2xl text-sm leading-7 text-slate-300">
+                  Each card compresses service scope, digest context, affected
+                  systems, and the next operator decision into one scan-ready
+                  block.
+                </p>
+              </div>
+              <div
+                aria-label="Watchtower alert digest cards"
+                className="mt-6 grid gap-4"
+                role="list"
+              >
+                {watchtowerAlerts.map((alert) => (
+                  <article
+                    key={alert.title}
+                    className={`rounded-[1.6rem] border px-5 py-5 shadow-[0_22px_70px_rgba(2,6,23,0.22)] ${alertToneClasses[alert.severity]}`}
+                    role="listitem"
+                  >
+                    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+                      <span className="rounded-full border border-white/10 bg-slate-950/40 px-3 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-white">
+                        {alertToneLabels[alert.severity]}
+                      </span>
+                      <span className="rounded-full border border-white/10 bg-white/4 px-3 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-slate-300">
+                        {alert.service}
+                      </span>
+                    </div>
+                    <h3 className="mt-3 text-2xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-white">
+                      {alert.title}
+                    </h3>
+                    <p className="mt-2 text-sm text-slate-300">
+                      {alert.scope} · {alert.owner}
+                    </p>
+                    <p className="mt-4 max-w-4xl text-sm leading-7 text-slate-200">
+                      {alert.digest}
+                    </p>
+                    <div className="mt-4 flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+                      {alert.affectedSystems.map((system) => (
+                        <span
+                          key={system}
+                          className="rounded-full border border-white/10 bg-white/6 px-3 py-1 text-xs text-slate-200"
+                        >
+                          {system}
+                        </span>
+                      ))}
+                    </div>
+                    <p className="mt-4 text-sm leading-7 text-cyan-100">
+                      {alert.nextStep}
+                    </p>
+                  </article>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </section>
+
+            <section
+              aria-label="Watchtower health summaries"
+              className="rounded-[1.9rem] border border-white/10 bg-[linear-gradient(180deg,rgba(15,23,42,0.8),rgba(8,15,30,0.94))] p-6 shadow-[0_28px_90px_rgba(2,6,23,0.24)]"
+              id="watchtower-health"
+            >
+              <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 lg:flex-row lg:items-end lg:justify-between">
+                <div className="space-y-2">
+                  <p className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.24em] text-slate-400">
+                    Health summaries
+                  </p>
+                  <h2 className="text-3xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-white sm:text-4xl">
+                    Short health summaries for the systems that shape the handoff
+                  </h2>
+                </div>
+                <p className="max-w-2xl text-sm leading-7 text-slate-300">
+                  These summaries stay short on purpose: one signal, one owner,
+                  one recommendation, and no hidden secondary state.
+                </p>
+              </div>
+
+              <div
+                aria-label="Watchtower health summary cards"
+                className="mt-6 grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-3"
+                role="list"
+              >
+                {watchtowerHealthSummaries.map((summary) => (
+                  <article
+                    key={summary.title}
+                    className={`rounded-[1.5rem] border px-5 py-5 ${healthToneClasses[summary.tone]}`}
+                    role="listitem"
+                  >
+                    <p className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-slate-400">
+                      {healthToneLabels[summary.tone]}
+                    </p>
+                    <h3 className="mt-3 text-xl font-semibold text-white">
+                      {summary.title}
+                    </h3>
+                    <p className="mt-2 text-sm font-medium text-cyan-100">
+                      {summary.signal}
+                    </p>
+                    <p className="mt-3 text-sm leading-7 text-slate-200">
+                      {summary.summary}
+                    </p>
+                    <div className="mt-5 rounded-[1.2rem] border border-white/10 bg-white/5 px-4 py-4">
+                      <p className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-slate-400">
+                        Owner
+                      </p>
+                      <p className="mt-2 text-sm text-slate-100">{summary.owner}</p>
+                      <p className="mt-3 text-sm leading-7 text-slate-200">
+                        {summary.recommendation}
+                      </p>
+                    </div>
+                  </article>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </section>
+          </div>
+
+          <aside
+            aria-label="Operator notes rail"
+            className="rounded-[1.9rem] border border-white/10 bg-[linear-gradient(180deg,rgba(15,23,42,0.8),rgba(8,15,30,0.94))] p-5 shadow-[0_28px_90px_rgba(2,6,23,0.24)] xl:sticky xl:top-8"
+          >
+            <div className="grid gap-4">
+              <section className="rounded-[1.5rem] border border-white/10 bg-white/5 p-5">
+                <p className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.24em] text-slate-400">
+                  Operator notes rail
+                </p>
+                <h2 className="mt-3 text-2xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-white">
+                  Compact notes that survive the handoff
+                </h2>
+                <p className="mt-3 text-sm leading-7 text-slate-300">
+                  Notes stay compact so the incoming operator can scan intent,
+                  ownership, and follow-up without reopening the full incident
+                  trail.
+                </p>
+                <div className="mt-4 rounded-[1.2rem] border border-cyan-300/20 bg-cyan-300/10 px-4 py-4">
+                  <p className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-cyan-100/80">
+                    Shift anchor
+                  </p>
+                  <p className="mt-2 text-sm leading-7 text-cyan-50">
+                    {watchtowerOverview.focusNote}
+                  </p>
+                  <p className="mt-3 text-sm font-medium text-cyan-100">
+                    Review window · {watchtowerOverview.reviewWindow}
+                  </p>
+                </div>
+              </section>
+
+              <div
+                aria-label="Watchtower operator note entries"
+                className="grid gap-4"
+                role="list"
+              >
+                {watchtowerOperatorNotes.map((note) => (
+                  <article
+                    key={`${note.author}-${note.time}`}
+                    className={`rounded-[1.4rem] border px-4 py-4 ${noteStatusClasses[note.status]}`}
+                    role="listitem"
+                  >
+                    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+                      <span className="rounded-full border border-white/10 bg-slate-950/40 px-3 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.18em] text-white">
+                        {noteStatusLabels[note.status]}
+                      </span>
+                      <span className="text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-[0.14em] text-slate-400">
+                        {note.channel}
+                      </span>
+                    </div>
+                    <p className="mt-3 text-sm font-semibold text-white">{note.author}</p>
+                    <p className="mt-1 text-xs uppercase tracking-[0.14em] text-slate-400">
+                      {note.time}
+                    </p>
+                    <p className="mt-3 text-sm leading-7 text-slate-200">{note.note}</p>
+                    <p className="mt-3 text-sm leading-7 text-cyan-100">
+                      {note.followUp}
+                    </p>
+                  </article>
+                ))}
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </aside>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </main>
+  );
+}