diff --git a/EnemyDefinitions.gd b/EnemyDefinitions.gd
index fa910b5..b641b60 100644
--- a/EnemyDefinitions.gd
+++ b/EnemyDefinitions.gd
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ class_name EnemyDefinitions
 extends RefCounted
 
 const DEFAULT_ID: String = "chaser"
-const ORDER: PackedStringArray = ["chaser"]
+const ORDER: PackedStringArray = ["chaser", "sniper"]
 const DEFINITIONS: Dictionary = {
 	"chaser": preload("res://ChaserEnemyDefinition.tres"),
+	"sniper": preload("res://SniperEnemyDefinition.tres"),
 }
 
 
diff --git a/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.gd b/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8600ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+class_name EnemyRangedWeaponComponent
+extends Node
+
+# Same shape as VesselWeaponComponent, mirrored for an enemy: fires an
+# EnemyProjectile at the nearest player ship's CURRENT position, not led,
+# so a moving ship can dodge it.
+
+var capability_id: String = "ranged_weapon"
+
+@export var fire_range: float = 700.0
+@export var fire_cooldown: float = 2.2
+@export var projectile_speed: float = 260.0
+@export var damage: int = 1
+
+var fire_timer: float = 0.0
+var projectile_scene: PackedScene = preload("res://EnemyProjectile.tscn")
+
+
+func tick(delta: float) -> void:
+	fire_timer -= delta
+	if fire_timer > 0.0:
+		return
+	var enemy: Node2D = get_parent()
+	var target: Node2D = _nearest_ship_in_range(enemy)
+	if target == null:
+		fire_timer = 0.25
+		return
+	var projectile: Area2D = projectile_scene.instantiate()
+	# global_position: the projectile is reparented to root, a different
+	# node than the enemy's own (possibly nested) parent, so local
+	# position would be wrong the moment an enemy isn't a direct root
+	# child - exactly the case #44 introduced (planet-surface hosting).
+	projectile.position = enemy.global_position
+	projectile.damage = damage
+	projectile.speed = projectile_speed
+	enemy.get_tree().root.add_child(projectile)
+	projectile.launch(target.global_position - enemy.global_position)
+	fire_timer = fire_cooldown
+
+
+func _nearest_ship_in_range(enemy: Node2D) -> Node2D:
+	var fleet: Node2D = get_tree().get_first_node_in_group("player_fleet")
+	if fleet == null:
+		return null
+	var nearest: Node2D = null
+	var best_distance: float = fire_range
+	for ship in fleet.ships:
+		if not is_instance_valid(ship):
+			continue
+		var distance: float = enemy.global_position.distance_to(ship.global_position)
+		if distance <= best_distance:
+			best_distance = distance
+			nearest = ship
+	return nearest
diff --git a/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.gd.uid b/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0cb4c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dx1lmxw6ia66a
diff --git a/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.tscn b/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c8b203
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="EnemyRangedWeaponComponent" type="Node"]
+script = ExtResource("1")
diff --git a/EnemyStandoffComponent.gd b/EnemyStandoffComponent.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0111738
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EnemyStandoffComponent.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+class_name EnemyStandoffComponent
+extends Node
+
+# Holds a preferred distance from the nearest player ship instead of
+# ramming: advances when too far, retreats when too close, drifts
+# laterally in the comfortable band between so it still reads as alive
+# rather than frozen. Never pair with a pursuit component on the same
+# enemy - the two would fight over velocity every tick.
+
+var capability_id: String = "standoff"
+
+@export var preferred_range: float = 620.0
+@export var retreat_range_factor: float = 0.75
+
+var velocity: Vector2 = Vector2.ZERO
+
+
+func tick(delta: float) -> void:
+	var enemy: Node2D = get_parent()
+	var target: Node2D = _nearest_ship(enemy)
+	if target == null:
+		return
+	var to_target: Vector2 = target.position - enemy.position
+	var distance: float = to_target.length()
+	if distance < 1.0:
+		return
+	var direction: Vector2 = to_target / distance
+	var retreat_range: float = preferred_range * retreat_range_factor
+
+	var desired_velocity: Vector2
+	if distance > preferred_range:
+		desired_velocity = direction * enemy.speed
+	elif distance < retreat_range:
+		desired_velocity = -direction * enemy.speed
+	else:
+		var lateral: Vector2 = Vector2(-direction.y, direction.x)
+		desired_velocity = lateral * enemy.speed * 0.5
+
+	velocity = velocity.move_toward(desired_velocity, enemy.acceleration * delta)
+	enemy.position += velocity * delta
+
+	if velocity.length() > 5.0:
+		var target_angle: float = velocity.angle() + PI / 2.0
+		enemy.rotation = lerp_angle(enemy.rotation, target_angle, enemy.rotation_speed * delta)
+
+
+func _nearest_ship(enemy: Node2D) -> Node2D:
+	var fleet: Node2D = get_tree().get_first_node_in_group("player_fleet")
+	if fleet == null or fleet.ships.is_empty():
+		return null
+	var nearest: Node2D = fleet.ships[0]
+	var best_dist: float = enemy.position.distance_to(nearest.position)
+	for ship in fleet.ships:
+		var d: float = enemy.position.distance_to(ship.position)
+		if d < best_dist:
+			best_dist = d
+			nearest = ship
+	return nearest
diff --git a/EnemyStandoffComponent.gd.uid b/EnemyStandoffComponent.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b725855
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EnemyStandoffComponent.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://c7axi54f6p7gk
diff --git a/EnemyStandoffComponent.tscn b/EnemyStandoffComponent.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7858cc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EnemyStandoffComponent.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://EnemyStandoffComponent.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="EnemyStandoffComponent" type="Node"]
+script = ExtResource("1")
diff --git a/SniperEnemyDefinition.tres b/SniperEnemyDefinition.tres
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..102455f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/SniperEnemyDefinition.tres
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+[gd_resource type="Resource" script_class="EnemyDefinition" load_steps=4 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://EnemyDefinition.gd" id="1"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://EnemyStandoffComponent.tscn" id="2"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://EnemyRangedWeaponComponent.tscn" id="3"]
+
+[resource]
+script = ExtResource("1")
+enemy_id = "sniper"
+display_name = "Sniper"
+max_hp = 4
+speed = 90.0
+acceleration = 180.0
+rotation_speed = 5.0
+hull_points = PackedVector2Array(0, -28, 7, -6, 7, 22, -7, 22, -7, -6)
+glow_color = Color(0.42, 0.72, 1.0, 1)
+component_scenes = Array[PackedScene]([ExtResource("2"), ExtResource("3")])
diff --git a/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.gd b/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f87fe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+extends Node2D
+
+# Setup is deferred to the first _process() tick rather than done in
+# _ready(): PlanetAtmosphereController auto-spawns a 5-ship default fleet
+# in ITS _ready() on any fresh (non-returning) Main.tscn load, and since
+# this scene is itself added to the tree from inside _screenshot_tool.gd's
+# own _initialize() (a nested, not-yet-settled context), there's no
+# guaranteed ordering between the two _ready() calls - clearing the fleet
+# here could run BEFORE that auto-spawn and then get silently overwritten
+# by it. Waiting one frame guarantees it has already run first.
+#
+# Even after clearing, physics ticks can run several times before this
+# script's own next _process() tick (softpipe rendering is slow, and
+# physics is decoupled from it), so an auto-spawned ship can still get one
+# shot off in flight toward these enemies before the clearing code above
+# ever runs. Pausing the whole tree once everything is placed (last thing
+# this script does) freezes any such shot in transit for good, rather than
+# letting it arrive a few physics ticks later while the screenshot is
+# still waiting out its frame count.
+
+var main: Node
+var setup_done: bool = false
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	GameState.buildings.clear()
+	GameState.extractors.clear()
+	GameState.transporters.clear()
+	main = load("res://Main.tscn").instantiate()
+	add_child(main)
+	main.get_node("BackgroundLayer").visible = false
+	main.get_node("AsteroidField").visible = false
+	main.get_node("PlanetField").visible = false
+	main.get_node("BuildingField").visible = false
+	main.get_node("EnemySpawner").set_process(false)
+	main.get_node("AsteroidField").set_process(false)
+
+
+func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	if setup_done:
+		return
+	setup_done = true
+
+	var fleet: Node = main.get_node("Fleet")
+	for ship in fleet.ships:
+		if is_instance_valid(ship):
+			ship.set_physics_process(false)
+	fleet.spawn_ships(0, Vector2.ZERO)
+	# spawn_ships(0, ...) still isn't a truly empty fleet: it falls back to
+	# one default interceptor whenever the requested composition would
+	# otherwise be empty (Fleet.gd's own "the fleet is never really empty"
+	# rule). Clear that forced ship too, and halt it the same way.
+	for ship in fleet.ships:
+		if is_instance_valid(ship):
+			ship.set_physics_process(false)
+			ship.queue_free()
+	fleet.ships.clear()
+	for projectile in get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("player_projectiles"):
+		projectile.queue_free()
+
+	var chaser: Node = load("res://Enemy.tscn").instantiate()
+	chaser.enemy_id = "chaser"
+	chaser.position = Vector2(-160, -80)
+	main.add_child(chaser)
+	chaser.speed = 0.0
+
+	var sniper: Node = load("res://Enemy.tscn").instantiate()
+	sniper.enemy_id = "sniper"
+	sniper.position = Vector2(160, -80)
+	main.add_child(sniper)
+	sniper.speed = 0.0
+
+	var camera: Camera2D = main.get_node("Camera2D")
+	camera.zoom = Vector2(1.4, 1.4)
+
+	get_tree().paused = true
diff --git a/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.gd.uid b/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..688d960
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://d2fj1p61hp2pk
diff --git a/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.tscn b/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9680ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://tests/_sniper_vs_chaser_preview.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="SniperVsChaserPreview" type="Node2D"]
+script = ExtResource("1")
diff --git a/tests/test_sniper_enemy.gd b/tests/test_sniper_enemy.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a4d369
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_sniper_enemy.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,226 @@
+extends SceneTree
+
+# Headless gameplay test: run with
+#   godot --headless -s res://tests/test_sniper_enemy.gd
+# Verifies:
+#   1. against a stationary fleet, a sniper closes to roughly its standoff
+#      component's preferred_range and never reaches contact range
+#   2. its ranged weapon only fires within fire_range, and respects cooldown
+#   3. the projectile is slow enough that a ship moving away right after the
+#      shot clears the impact point unharmed
+#   4. a hit (ship held in place) destroys an unshielded ship and is
+#      absorbed by a shielded one, losing exactly one charge
+#
+# Movement (1) and combat (2-4) use SEPARATE sniper instances: a stationary
+# ship left in weapon range for many seconds would otherwise take stray
+# hits during the movement check and die before the later stages run, which
+# is a test-harness artifact, not anything about the sniper's own design.
+
+var game_state: Node
+var main: Node
+var fleet: Node
+var mover: Node          # movement-only: its ranged_weapon is removed
+var sniper: Node         # combat-only: pinned in place via speed = 0
+var target_ship: Node
+var interceptor: Node
+var shield_ship: Node
+var min_distance: float = INF
+var cooldown_watermark: float = 0.0
+var projectiles_before: int = 0
+var stage: int = 0
+var elapsed: float = 0.0
+var settle_elapsed: float = 0.0
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	game_state = root.get_node("GameState")
+	game_state.buildings.clear()
+	game_state.extractors.clear()
+	game_state.transporters.clear()
+	game_state.stored_vessels.clear()
+	game_state.build_time_scale = 0.02
+	game_state.reset_progression()
+	game_state.rocks = 2000
+	main = load("res://Main.tscn").instantiate()
+	root.add_child(main)
+	fleet = main.get_node("Fleet")
+
+
+func _projectile_count() -> int:
+	return get_nodes_in_group("enemy_projectiles").size()
+
+
+func _process(delta: float) -> bool:
+	elapsed += delta
+	match stage:
+		0:
+			if elapsed < 0.1:
+				return false
+			main.get_node("EnemySpawner").set_process(false)
+			main.get_node("AsteroidField").set_process(false)
+			for a in get_nodes_in_group("asteroids"):
+				a.queue_free()
+
+			fleet.spawn_ships(1, Vector2.ZERO)
+			target_ship = fleet.ships[0]
+
+			mover = load("res://Enemy.tscn").instantiate()
+			mover.enemy_id = "sniper"
+			mover.position = target_ship.position + Vector2(1000, 0)
+			main.add_child(mover)
+			mover.get_component("ranged_weapon").queue_free()
+
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			settle_elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 1
+			return false
+		1:
+			# --- standoff: close in, never reach contact, settle near
+			# preferred_range -----------------------------------------
+			settle_elapsed += delta
+			min_distance = minf(min_distance, mover.position.distance_to(target_ship.position))
+			if min_distance < 100.0:
+				return _fail("sniper reached near-contact range (%.1f) against a stationary fleet" % min_distance)
+			if settle_elapsed < 8.0:
+				return false
+			var standoff: Node = mover.get_component("standoff")
+			var final_distance: float = mover.position.distance_to(target_ship.position)
+			var preferred: float = standoff.preferred_range
+			print("min_distance=%.1f final_distance=%.1f preferred=%.1f" % [min_distance, final_distance, preferred])
+			if final_distance < preferred * 0.6 or final_distance > preferred * 1.4:
+				return _fail("sniper did not settle near its preferred_range (final=%.1f preferred=%.1f)" % [
+					final_distance, preferred
+				])
+			mover.queue_free()
+
+			# --- fire range gating: a fresh, pinned sniper out of range ---
+			fleet.spawn_ships(1, target_ship.position + Vector2(-2000, 0))
+			interceptor = fleet.ships[0]
+			sniper = load("res://Enemy.tscn").instantiate()
+			sniper.enemy_id = "sniper"
+			main.add_child(sniper)
+			sniper.speed = 0.0
+			sniper.position = interceptor.position + Vector2(2000, 0)   # beyond fire_range
+			projectiles_before = _projectile_count()
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 2
+			return false
+		2:
+			var ranged: Node = sniper.get_component("ranged_weapon")
+			if elapsed < ranged.fire_cooldown + 0.5:
+				return false
+			if _projectile_count() != projectiles_before:
+				return _fail("sniper fired while beyond fire_range")
+
+			# --- move into range: it should fire ---
+			sniper.position = interceptor.position + Vector2(400, 0)
+			projectiles_before = _projectile_count()
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 3
+			return false
+		3:
+			if elapsed < 0.4:
+				return false
+			if _projectile_count() <= projectiles_before:
+				return _fail("sniper did not fire once in range")
+
+			# The already-fired shot is still travelling toward interceptor's
+			# stationary position and would otherwise connect and vanish -
+			# sidestep it (staying within fire_range, so the next stage's
+			# wait for a fresh shot still has a target). Also re-pin
+			# move_target to match - otherwise Ship's own steering
+			# immediately drives it back toward the stale target.
+			interceptor.position += Vector2(0, 150)
+			interceptor.move_target = interceptor.position
+
+			# --- cooldown: fire_timer must not jump back up before it's
+			# counted all the way down, which is what a second shot would
+			# do. Read from the component's own state rather than inferring
+			# it from projectile counts against a wall-clock wait: physics
+			# ticks can run in catch-up bursts relative to this SceneTree's
+			# own _process() under device load, so an EnemyProjectile's age
+			# and this script's `elapsed` are not guaranteed to stay in
+			# lockstep even with --fixed-fps.
+			cooldown_watermark = sniper.get_component("ranged_weapon").fire_timer
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 4
+			return false
+		4:
+			# fire_timer can never be caught externally at exactly <= 0: the
+			# component decrements-checks-refires atomically in one tick, so
+			# by the time this poll runs it has either not reached zero yet
+			# or has already fired and jumped back up to fire_cooldown. A
+			# RISE from the last observed value is therefore the reliable
+			# externally-visible signal for "it just fired again" - within
+			# the first 0.6s that is a bug (still cooling down from the
+			# first shot), afterward it is the legitimate next shot to dodge.
+			var current: float = sniper.get_component("ranged_weapon").fire_timer
+			if current > cooldown_watermark:
+				if elapsed < 0.6:
+					return _fail("sniper's cooldown timer jumped back up (a second shot fired) before it finished counting down")
+				interceptor.position += Vector2(0, 900)   # perpendicular, well clear
+				interceptor.move_target = interceptor.position
+				elapsed = 0.0
+				stage = 6
+				return false
+			cooldown_watermark = current
+			if elapsed > 6.0:
+				return _fail("sniper never fired its next shot")
+			return false
+		6:
+			# Give the projectile its full lifetime to have resolved either way.
+			if elapsed < 3.5:
+				return false
+			if not is_instance_valid(interceptor):
+				return _fail("a slow sniper shot still hit a ship that moved away immediately")
+			print("dodge held: interceptor survived after moving off the impact point")
+
+			# --- direct hit: ship held in place, unshielded then shielded ---
+			interceptor.position = sniper.position + Vector2(300, 0)
+			interceptor.move_target = interceptor.position
+			fleet.add_ship(GameState.VESSEL_SHIELD)
+			shield_ship = fleet.ships[fleet.ships.size() - 1]
+			shield_ship.position = Vector2(20000, 0)   # far from the line of fire
+			shield_ship.move_target = shield_ship.position
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 7
+			return false
+		7:
+			if elapsed < 0.3:
+				return false
+			if not shield_ship.has_shield():
+				return _fail("a fresh shield vessel has no shield")
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 8
+			return false
+		8:
+			if is_instance_valid(interceptor):
+				if elapsed > 4.0:
+					return _fail("held interceptor was never hit by the sniper")
+				return false
+			print("stationary unshielded interceptor destroyed by sniper fire")
+
+			shield_ship.position = sniper.position + Vector2(300, 0)
+			shield_ship.move_target = shield_ship.position
+			elapsed = 0.0
+			stage = 9
+			return false
+		9:
+			if elapsed < 4.0:
+				return false
+			if not is_instance_valid(shield_ship):
+				return _fail("a shielded ship was destroyed by sniper fire")
+			if shield_ship.shield_charges != 0:
+				return _fail("shield charges did not drop to 0 after absorbing one hit (charges=%d)" %
+					shield_ship.shield_charges)
+			print("shielded ship absorbed a sniper hit and lost exactly one charge")
+			print("TEST_SNIPER_ENEMY: PASS")
+			quit(0)
+			return true
+	return false
+
+
+func _fail(message: String) -> bool:
+	print("TEST_SNIPER_ENEMY: FAIL (%s)" % message)
+	quit(1)
+	return true
diff --git a/tests/test_sniper_enemy.gd.uid b/tests/test_sniper_enemy.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..410c027
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_sniper_enemy.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://eaxineak2fte