diff --git a/assets/vector/status/link.svg b/assets/vector/status/link.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..78f6338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/vector/status/link.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:c76a625c17d48ff3388b77407dee66f42f6ae518541279609bf6f9c68c2c2ac5
+size 352
diff --git a/assets/vector/status/link.svg.import b/assets/vector/status/link.svg.import
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..efa8c79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/vector/status/link.svg.import
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+[remap]
+
+importer="texture"
+type="CompressedTexture2D"
+uid="uid://1sjxuy7kgxy7"
+path="res://.godot/imported/link.svg-f8724c7cad57bde98ee0cda284f3ebbb.ctex"
+metadata={
+"vram_texture": false
+}
+
+[deps]
+
+source_file="res://assets/vector/status/link.svg"
+dest_files=["res://.godot/imported/link.svg-f8724c7cad57bde98ee0cda284f3ebbb.ctex"]
+
+[params]
+
+compress/mode=0
+compress/high_quality=false
+compress/lossy_quality=0.7
+compress/uastc_level=0
+compress/rdo_quality_loss=0.0
+compress/hdr_compression=1
+compress/normal_map=0
+compress/channel_pack=0
+mipmaps/generate=false
+mipmaps/limit=-1
+roughness/mode=0
+roughness/src_normal=""
+process/channel_remap/red=0
+process/channel_remap/green=1
+process/channel_remap/blue=2
+process/channel_remap/alpha=3
+process/fix_alpha_border=true
+process/premult_alpha=false
+process/normal_map_invert_y=false
+process/hdr_as_srgb=false
+process/hdr_clamp_exposure=false
+process/size_limit=0
+detect_3d/compress_to=1
+svg/scale=1.0
+editor/scale_with_editor_scale=false
+editor/convert_colors_with_editor_theme=false
diff --git a/components/link_panel.tscn b/components/link_panel.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12e3fd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/link_panel.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+[gd_scene format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://scripts/link_panel.gd" id="1"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://components/link_rate.tscn" id="2"]
+[ext_resource type="Texture2D" path="res://assets/vector/status/link.svg" id="3"]
+
+[node name="LinkPanel" type="PanelContainer"]
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(360, 240)
+offset_right = 360.0
+offset_bottom = 240.0
+theme_type_variation = &"VehicleBackground"
+script = ExtResource("1")
+link_icon = ExtResource("3")
+
+[node name="Backdrop" type="Control" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 2
+clip_contents = true
+mouse_filter = 2
+
+[node name="LinkIcon" type="TextureRect" parent="Backdrop"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 1
+anchor_left = 0.65
+anchor_right = 0.65
+anchor_top = 0.5
+anchor_bottom = 0.5
+offset_left = -90.0
+offset_right = 90.0
+offset_top = -90.0
+offset_bottom = 90.0
+rotation = -0.20943952
+pivot_offset = Vector2(90, 90)
+mouse_filter = 2
+texture = ExtResource("3")
+expand_mode = 1
+stretch_mode = 5
+
+[node name="Margin" type="MarginContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_constants/margin_left = 16
+theme_override_constants/margin_right = 16
+theme_override_constants/margin_top = 10
+theme_override_constants/margin_bottom = 10
+
+[node name="Body" type="VBoxContainer" parent="Margin"]
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_constants/separation = 4
+
+[node name="Header" type="HBoxContainer" parent="Margin/Body"]
+layout_mode = 2
+
+[node name="Title" type="Label" parent="Margin/Body/Header"]
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 3
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
+text = "LINK"
+
+[node name="State" type="Label" parent="Margin/Body/Header"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 14
+text = "NO TELEMETRY"
+horizontal_alignment = 2
+
+[node name="Rates" type="HBoxContainer" parent="Margin/Body"]
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_vertical = 3
+theme_override_constants/separation = 16
+
+[node name="Downlink" parent="Margin/Body/Rates" instance=ExtResource("2")]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_vertical = 3
+
+[node name="Uplink" parent="Margin/Body/Rates" instance=ExtResource("2")]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_vertical = 3
+direction = "↑ UPLINK"
+
+[node name="Loss" type="HBoxContainer" parent="Margin/Body"]
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_constants/separation = 8
+
+[node name="Title" type="Label" parent="Margin/Body/Loss"]
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 14
+text = "PACKET LOSS"
+
+[node name="LossValue" type="Label" parent="Margin/Body/Loss"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 3
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 20
+text = "—"
+
+[node name="LossWindow" type="Label" parent="Margin/Body/Loss"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_type_variation = &"LinkMuted"
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 14
+text = "10 s window"
+horizontal_alignment = 2
diff --git a/components/link_rate.tscn b/components/link_rate.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7214cf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/link_rate.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+[gd_scene format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://scripts/link_rate.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="LinkRate" type="Control"]
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(140, 148)
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 3
+script = ExtResource("1")
+
+[node name="Readouts" type="VBoxContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 1
+anchor_left = 0.5
+anchor_right = 0.5
+anchor_top = 0.5
+anchor_bottom = 0.5
+offset_left = -70.0
+offset_right = 70.0
+offset_top = -44.0
+offset_bottom = 44.0
+theme_override_constants/separation = 0
+
+[node name="Direction" type="Label" parent="Readouts"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_type_variation = &"LinkRateNormal"
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 15
+text = "↓ DOWNLINK"
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+
+[node name="Value" type="Label" parent="Readouts"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 32
+text = "—"
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+
+[node name="Units" type="Label" parent="Readouts"]
+layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 14
+text = "Gbps"
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+
+[node name="Capacity" type="Label" parent="."]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 1
+anchor_left = 0.5
+anchor_right = 0.5
+anchor_top = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+offset_left = -62.0
+offset_right = 62.0
+offset_top = -23.0
+offset_bottom = -3.0
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 14
+text = "10 Gbps max"
+horizontal_alignment = 1
diff --git a/docs/link_panel.md b/docs/link_panel.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..286d2b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/link_panel.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Link panel
+
+Run `scenes/link_demo.tscn` with F6. The controls preview connected, near-capacity, saturated, degraded, disconnected, stale and missing telemetry, plus both themes.
+
+```gdscript
+$LinkPanel.set_telemetry(6.42, 1.08, 0.02, 0)
+# down/up: Gbps; packet loss: percent; state: 0 connected, 1 degraded, 2 disconnected
+```
+
+Capacity defaults to 10 Gbps per direction. Arc and direction colors change at 80% and 95%; these thresholds and capacities are configurable. Numeric readings stay in the normal text color and remain unclamped above capacity. Utilization does not change the reported connection state.
+
+`loss_window_seconds` describes the supplied loss measurement (default 10 s); compute that measurement upstream. Disconnected and missing telemetry show dashes. After `stale_after_seconds` (default 2), values are held with a STALE label. Invalid or non-finite samples are rejected. `clear_telemetry()` restores the missing-data state.
+
+Layout and text are scene nodes; `link_rate.gd` only draws the utilization arcs. `link_icon` selects the subdued SVG watermark. The current local chain-link drawing is a draft. Colors come from the shared theme.
+
+The panel replaces the Link placeholder in both layouts and the element library. Existing JSON layouts keep their `link` type IDs. Camera and telemetry transports are not connected by this prototype.
diff --git a/scenes/link_demo.tscn b/scenes/link_demo.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64f1103
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scenes/link_demo.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+[gd_scene format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://scripts/link_demo.gd" id="1"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://components/link_panel.tscn" id="2"]
+
+[node name="LinkDemo" type="VBoxContainer"]
+offset_left = 24.0
+offset_top = 24.0
+offset_right = 624.0
+offset_bottom = 420.0
+theme_override_constants/separation = 16
+script = ExtResource("1")
+
+[node name="Notice" type="Label" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 2
+text = "SIMULATED / LINK INSTRUMENT"
+
+[node name="LinkPanel" parent="." instance=ExtResource("2")]
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 4
+
+[node name="Controls" type="HBoxContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 2
+
+[node name="State" type="OptionButton" parent="Controls"]
+layout_mode = 2
+selected = 0
+item_count = 7
+popup/item_0/text = "Connected"
+popup/item_0/id = 0
+popup/item_1/text = "Near capacity"
+popup/item_1/id = 1
+popup/item_2/text = "Saturated"
+popup/item_2/id = 2
+popup/item_3/text = "Degraded"
+popup/item_3/id = 3
+popup/item_4/text = "Disconnected"
+popup/item_4/id = 4
+popup/item_5/text = "Stop feed / stale"
+popup/item_5/id = 5
+popup/item_6/text = "No telemetry"
+popup/item_6/id = 6
+
+[node name="Contrast" type="CheckButton" parent="Controls"]
+layout_mode = 2
+text = "High contrast"
+
+[node name="Thresholds" type="Label" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 2
+text = "Arc thresholds: 80% warning · 95% saturation"
diff --git a/scripts/link_demo.gd b/scripts/link_demo.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3b270de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/link_demo.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+extends VBoxContainer
+
+var elapsed := 0.0
+@onready var panel = $LinkPanel
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	$Controls/Contrast.toggled.connect(func(high: bool) -> void:
+		theme = load("res://themes/theme_highcontrast.tres" if high else "res://themes/theme.tres")
+	)
+	$Controls/State.item_selected.connect(func(index: int) -> void:
+		if index == 6: panel.clear_telemetry()
+	)
+
+func _process(delta: float) -> void:
+	elapsed += delta
+	match $Controls/State.selected:
+		0: panel.set_telemetry(6.42 + sin(elapsed) * 0.12, 1.08, 0.02)
+		1: panel.set_telemetry(8.65, 7.9, 0.02)
+		2: panel.set_telemetry(9.72, 10.2, 0.02)
+		3: panel.set_telemetry(3.2, 0.4, 2.3, 1)
+		4: panel.set_telemetry(0, 0, 0, 2)
+		5, 6: pass
diff --git a/scripts/link_demo.gd.uid b/scripts/link_demo.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6579b3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/link_demo.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://i5dbrwr8d2gr
diff --git a/scripts/link_panel.gd b/scripts/link_panel.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e7dd17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/link_panel.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+@tool
+extends PanelContainer
+
+enum Connection { CONNECTED, DEGRADED, DISCONNECTED }
+
+@export var downlink_capacity_gbps := 10.0
+@export var uplink_capacity_gbps := 10.0
+@export_range(0, 1) var warning_fraction := 0.8
+@export_range(0, 1) var fault_fraction := 0.95
+@export var loss_window_seconds := 10.0
+@export var stale_after_seconds := 2.0
+@export var link_icon: Texture2D:
+	set(value):
+		link_icon = value
+		if is_node_ready():
+			%LinkIcon.texture = value
+
+var _received_ms := -1
+var _state := Connection.CONNECTED
+var _down := 0.0
+var _up := 0.0
+var _loss := 0.0
+var _stale := false
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	%LinkIcon.texture = link_icon
+	theme_changed.connect(_update_icon)
+	_update_icon()
+	_refresh()
+
+## Rates in Gbps; loss in percent over loss_window_seconds.
+func set_telemetry(down: float, up: float, loss_percent: float, state: int = Connection.CONNECTED) -> bool:
+	if not is_finite(down) or not is_finite(up) or not is_finite(loss_percent) or down < 0 or up < 0 or loss_percent < 0 or loss_percent > 100 or state < 0 or state > 2:
+		return false
+	_down = down
+	_up = up
+	_loss = loss_percent
+	_state = state
+	_received_ms = Time.get_ticks_msec()
+	_refresh()
+	return true
+
+func clear_telemetry() -> void:
+	_received_ms = -1
+	_refresh()
+
+func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	var stale := _received_ms >= 0 and Time.get_ticks_msec() - _received_ms > stale_after_seconds * 1000
+	if stale != _stale:
+		_refresh()
+
+func _refresh() -> void:
+	if not is_node_ready():
+		return
+	var missing := _received_ms < 0
+	_stale = not missing and Time.get_ticks_msec() - _received_ms > stale_after_seconds * 1000
+	var measured := not missing and _state != Connection.DISCONNECTED
+	%State.text = "NO TELEMETRY" if missing else ("STALE" if _stale else ["CONNECTED", "DEGRADED", "DISCONNECTED"][_state])
+	%State.theme_type_variation = "LinkMuted" if missing else ("LinkRateWarning" if _stale or _state == Connection.DEGRADED else ("LinkRateFault" if _state == Connection.DISCONNECTED else "Label"))
+	var gauges := [%Downlink, %Uplink]
+	for index in range(2):
+		gauges[index].capacity_gbps = maxf([downlink_capacity_gbps, uplink_capacity_gbps][index], 0.001)
+		gauges[index].warning_fraction = warning_fraction
+		gauges[index].fault_fraction = maxf(warning_fraction, fault_fraction)
+		gauges[index].rate_gbps = [_down, _up][index]
+		gauges[index].available = measured
+		gauges[index].refresh()
+	%LossValue.text = "%.2f%%" % _loss if measured else "—"
+	%LossWindow.text = "%.0f s window" % loss_window_seconds + (" · held" if _stale else "")
+
+func _update_icon() -> void:
+	var tint := get_theme_color("status_icon", "SurfaceSide")
+	tint.a = 0.06
+	%LinkIcon.self_modulate = tint
diff --git a/scripts/link_panel.gd.uid b/scripts/link_panel.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..959080e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/link_panel.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://84jt1vgxm2ei
diff --git a/scripts/link_rate.gd b/scripts/link_rate.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5d73ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/link_rate.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+@tool
+extends Control
+
+@export var direction := "↓ DOWNLINK"
+var capacity_gbps := 10.0
+var warning_fraction := 0.8
+var fault_fraction := 0.95
+var rate_gbps := 0.0
+var available := false
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	resized.connect(queue_redraw)
+	theme_changed.connect(queue_redraw)
+	refresh()
+
+func utilization() -> float:
+	return rate_gbps / maxf(capacity_gbps, 0.001)
+
+func severity() -> int:
+	if not available:
+		return 0
+	return 2 if utilization() >= fault_fraction else (1 if utilization() >= warning_fraction else 0)
+
+func refresh() -> void:
+	if not is_node_ready():
+		return
+	%Direction.text = direction
+	%Direction.theme_type_variation = "LinkMuted" if not available else ["LinkRateNormal", "LinkRateWarning", "LinkRateFault"][severity()]
+	%Value.text = "%.2f" % rate_gbps if available else "—"
+	%Capacity.text = "%s Gbps max" % String.num(capacity_gbps, 2)
+	queue_redraw()
+
+func _draw() -> void:
+	var radius := maxf(1.0, minf(size.x, size.y) / 2 - 6)
+	var center := size / 2
+	var start := deg_to_rad(140)
+	var sweep := deg_to_rad(260)
+	draw_arc(center, radius, start, start + sweep, 96, get_theme_color("instrument_grid", "SurfaceSide"), 3, true)
+	for fraction in [warning_fraction, fault_fraction]:
+		var radial := Vector2.from_angle(start + sweep * fraction)
+		draw_line(center + radial * (radius - 4), center + radial * (radius + 4), get_theme_color("instrument_axis", "SurfaceSide"), 1, true)
+	if available and rate_gbps > 0:
+		var role: String = ["instrument_accent", "warning", "fault"][severity()]
+		draw_arc(center, radius, start, start + sweep * clampf(utilization(), 0, 1), 96, get_theme_color(role, "SurfaceSide"), 4, true)
diff --git a/scripts/link_rate.gd.uid b/scripts/link_rate.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e45e42b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/link_rate.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://b1pcqygbaipjh