diff --git a/9_Firmware/9_2_FPGA/run_regression.sh b/9_Firmware/9_2_FPGA/run_regression.sh
index 5084128..7d8d6b4 100755
--- a/9_Firmware/9_2_FPGA/run_regression.sh
+++ b/9_Firmware/9_2_FPGA/run_regression.sh
@@ -315,6 +315,67 @@ run_mf_cosim() {
     PASS=$((PASS + 1))
 }
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Helper: compile, run, and compare a Doppler co-sim scenario
+#   run_doppler_cosim <scenario_name> <define_flag>
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+run_doppler_cosim() {
+    local name="$1"
+    local define="$2"
+    local vvp="tb/tb_doppler_cosim_${name}.vvp"
+
+    printf "  %-45s " "Doppler Co-Sim ($name)"
+
+    # Compile — build command as string to handle optional define
+    local cmd="iverilog -g2001 -DSIMULATION"
+    if [[ -n "$define" ]]; then
+        cmd="$cmd $define"
+    fi
+    cmd="$cmd -o $vvp tb/tb_doppler_cosim.v doppler_processor.v xfft_16.v fft_engine.v"
+
+    if ! eval "$cmd" 2>/tmp/iverilog_err_$$; then
+        echo -e "${RED}COMPILE FAIL${NC}"
+        ERRORS="$ERRORS\n  Doppler Co-Sim ($name): compile error ($(head -1 /tmp/iverilog_err_$$))"
+        FAIL=$((FAIL + 1))
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # Run TB
+    local output
+    output=$(timeout 120 vvp "$vvp" 2>&1) || true
+    rm -f "$vvp"
+
+    # Check TB internal pass/fail
+    local tb_fail
+    tb_fail=$(echo "$output" | grep -Ec '^\[FAIL' || true)
+    if [[ "$tb_fail" -gt 0 ]]; then
+        echo -e "${RED}FAIL${NC} (TB internal failure)"
+        ERRORS="$ERRORS\n  Doppler Co-Sim ($name): TB internal failure"
+        FAIL=$((FAIL + 1))
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # Run Python compare
+    if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        local compare_out
+        local compare_rc=0
+        compare_out=$(python3 tb/cosim/compare_doppler.py "$name" 2>&1) || compare_rc=$?
+        if [[ "$compare_rc" -ne 0 ]]; then
+            echo -e "${RED}FAIL${NC} (compare_doppler.py mismatch)"
+            ERRORS="$ERRORS\n  Doppler Co-Sim ($name): Python compare failed"
+            FAIL=$((FAIL + 1))
+            return
+        fi
+    else
+        echo -e "${YELLOW}SKIP${NC} (RTL passed, python3 not found — compare skipped)"
+        SKIP=$((SKIP + 1))
+        return
+    fi
+
+    echo -e "${GREEN}PASS${NC} (RTL + Python compare)"
+    PASS=$((PASS + 1))
+}
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Helper: compile and run a single testbench
 #   run_test <name> <vvp_path> <iverilog_args...>
@@ -429,9 +490,9 @@ run_test "Chirp Contract" \
     tb/tb_chirp_ctr_reg.vvp \
     tb/tb_chirp_contract.v plfm_chirp_controller.v
 
-run_test "Doppler Processor (DSP48)" \
-    tb/tb_doppler_reg.vvp \
-    tb/tb_doppler_cosim.v doppler_processor.v xfft_16.v fft_engine.v
+run_doppler_cosim "stationary"   ""
+run_doppler_cosim "moving"       "-DSCENARIO_MOVING"
+run_doppler_cosim "two_targets"  "-DSCENARIO_TWO"
 
 run_test "Threshold Detector (detection bugs)" \
     tb/tb_threshold_detector.vvp \
diff --git a/9_Firmware/9_3_GUI/test_v7.py b/9_Firmware/9_3_GUI/test_v7.py
index b4b1670..a6d31c1 100644
--- a/9_Firmware/9_3_GUI/test_v7.py
+++ b/9_Firmware/9_3_GUI/test_v7.py
@@ -666,6 +666,231 @@ class TestSoftwareFPGASignalChain(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(frame_cfar.magnitude.shape, (64, 32))
 
 
+class TestGoldenReferenceReplayFixtures(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Golden replay fixtures and SoftwareFPGA smoke tests.
+
+    Phase C3 adds two fixture-integrity tests that verify the committed
+    `golden_reference.py` pipeline still reproduces the checked-in `.npy`
+    artifacts, plus one `SoftwareFPGA.process_chirps()` smoke test that checks
+    the GUI replay path still produces a valid `RadarFrame` shape.
+    """
+
+    COSIM_DIR = os.path.join(
+        os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "9_2_FPGA", "tb", "cosim",
+        "real_data", "hex"
+    )
+
+    REQUIRED_COSIM_FILES = (
+        "range_fft_all_i.npy",
+        "range_fft_all_q.npy",
+        "decimated_range_i.npy",
+        "decimated_range_q.npy",
+        "fullchain_cfar_flags.npy",
+        "fullchain_cfar_mag.npy",
+    )
+
+    def _cosim_available(self):
+        return all(
+            os.path.isfile(os.path.join(self.COSIM_DIR, name))
+            for name in self.REQUIRED_COSIM_FILES
+        )
+
+    def _load(self, name):
+        return np.load(os.path.join(self.COSIM_DIR, name))
+
+    def test_decimator_matches_golden(self):
+        """Golden decimator helper must reproduce committed decimated output."""
+        if not self._cosim_available():
+            self.skipTest("co-sim data not found")
+        import sys as _sys
+        from pathlib import Path as _Path
+        _gr_dir = str(
+            _Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+            / "9_2_FPGA" / "tb" / "cosim" / "real_data"
+        )
+        if _gr_dir not in _sys.path:
+            _sys.path.insert(0, _gr_dir)
+        from golden_reference import run_range_bin_decimator
+
+        range_i = self._load("range_fft_all_i.npy")
+        range_q = self._load("range_fft_all_q.npy")
+        expected_i = self._load("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        expected_q = self._load("decimated_range_q.npy")
+
+        got_i, got_q = run_range_bin_decimator(range_i, range_q)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            got_i,
+            expected_i,
+            err_msg="Golden decimator I drifted from committed fixture",
+        )
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            got_q,
+            expected_q,
+            err_msg="Golden decimator Q drifted from committed fixture",
+        )
+
+    def test_full_chain_cfar_output_matches_golden(self):
+        """Golden full pipeline must reproduce committed CFAR golden data."""
+        if not self._cosim_available():
+            self.skipTest("co-sim data not found")
+        import sys as _sys
+        from pathlib import Path as _Path
+        _gr_dir = str(
+            _Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+            / "9_2_FPGA" / "tb" / "cosim" / "real_data"
+        )
+        if _gr_dir not in _sys.path:
+            _sys.path.insert(0, _gr_dir)
+        from golden_reference import (
+            run_range_bin_decimator, run_mti_canceller,
+            run_doppler_fft, run_dc_notch, run_cfar_ca,
+        )
+
+        range_i = self._load("range_fft_all_i.npy")
+        range_q = self._load("range_fft_all_q.npy")
+        expected_flags = self._load("fullchain_cfar_flags.npy")
+        expected_mag = self._load("fullchain_cfar_mag.npy")
+
+        # Run the same chain as golden_reference.py:main()
+        twiddle_16 = os.path.join(
+            os.path.dirname(__file__), "..", "9_2_FPGA",
+            "fft_twiddle_16.mem",
+        )
+        if not os.path.exists(twiddle_16):
+            self.skipTest("fft_twiddle_16.mem not found")
+
+        dec_i, dec_q = run_range_bin_decimator(range_i, range_q)
+        mti_i, mti_q = run_mti_canceller(dec_i, dec_q, enable=True)
+        dop_i, dop_q = run_doppler_fft(
+            mti_i, mti_q, twiddle_file_16=twiddle_16,
+        )
+        notch_i, notch_q = run_dc_notch(dop_i, dop_q, width=2)
+        flags, mag, _thr = run_cfar_ca(
+            notch_i, notch_q, guard=2, train=8, alpha_q44=0x30, mode="CA",
+        )
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            flags,
+            expected_flags,
+            err_msg="Golden full-chain CFAR flags mismatch committed fixture",
+        )
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            mag,
+            expected_mag,
+            err_msg="Golden full-chain CFAR magnitudes mismatch committed fixture",
+        )
+
+    def test_software_fpga_frame_shape_from_range_fft(self):
+        """SoftwareFPGA.process_chirps on range_fft data produces correct shape.
+
+        NOTE: process_chirps re-runs the range FFT, so we can't feed it
+        post-FFT data and expect golden match.  This test verifies that the
+        RadarFrame output has the right shape and that the chain doesn't crash
+        when given realistic-amplitude input.
+        """
+        if not self._cosim_available():
+            self.skipTest("co-sim data not found")
+        from v7.software_fpga import SoftwareFPGA
+        from radar_protocol import RadarFrame
+
+        # Use decimated data padded to 1024 as input (so range FFT has content)
+        dec_i = self._load("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        dec_q = self._load("decimated_range_q.npy")
+        iq_i = np.zeros((32, 1024), dtype=np.int64)
+        iq_q = np.zeros((32, 1024), dtype=np.int64)
+        iq_i[:, :dec_i.shape[1]] = dec_i
+        iq_q[:, :dec_q.shape[1]] = dec_q
+
+        fpga = SoftwareFPGA()
+        fpga.set_mti_enable(True)
+        fpga.set_cfar_enable(True)
+        fpga.set_dc_notch_width(2)
+        frame = fpga.process_chirps(iq_i, iq_q, frame_number=99)
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(frame, RadarFrame)
+        self.assertEqual(frame.range_doppler_i.shape, (64, 32))
+        self.assertEqual(frame.magnitude.shape, (64, 32))
+        self.assertEqual(frame.detections.shape, (64, 32))
+        self.assertEqual(frame.range_profile.shape, (64,))
+        self.assertEqual(frame.frame_number, 99)
+
+    def test_software_fpga_wiring_matches_manual_chain(self):
+        """SoftwareFPGA.process_chirps must call stages in the correct order
+        with the correct parameters.
+
+        Feeds identical synthetic IQ through both SoftwareFPGA and a manual
+        golden_reference chain, then asserts the CFAR output matches.
+        This catches wiring bugs: wrong stage order, wrong default params,
+        missing DC notch, etc.
+        """
+        from v7.software_fpga import SoftwareFPGA, TWIDDLE_1024, TWIDDLE_16
+        if not os.path.exists(TWIDDLE_1024) or not os.path.exists(TWIDDLE_16):
+            self.skipTest("twiddle files not found")
+
+        import sys as _sys
+        from pathlib import Path as _Path
+        _gr_dir = str(
+            _Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+            / "9_2_FPGA" / "tb" / "cosim" / "real_data"
+        )
+        if _gr_dir not in _sys.path:
+            _sys.path.insert(0, _gr_dir)
+        from golden_reference import (
+            run_range_fft, run_range_bin_decimator, run_mti_canceller,
+            run_doppler_fft, run_dc_notch, run_cfar_ca,
+        )
+
+        # Deterministic synthetic input — small int16 values to avoid overflow
+        rng = np.random.RandomState(42)
+        iq_i = rng.randint(-500, 500, size=(32, 1024), dtype=np.int64)
+        iq_q = rng.randint(-500, 500, size=(32, 1024), dtype=np.int64)
+
+        # --- SoftwareFPGA path (what we're testing) ---
+        fpga = SoftwareFPGA()
+        fpga.set_mti_enable(True)
+        fpga.set_cfar_enable(True)
+        fpga.set_dc_notch_width(2)
+        frame = fpga.process_chirps(iq_i.copy(), iq_q.copy(), frame_number=0)
+
+        # --- Manual golden_reference chain (ground truth) ---
+        range_i = np.zeros_like(iq_i)
+        range_q = np.zeros_like(iq_q)
+        for c in range(32):
+            range_i[c], range_q[c] = run_range_fft(
+                iq_i[c], iq_q[c], twiddle_file=TWIDDLE_1024,
+            )
+        dec_i, dec_q = run_range_bin_decimator(range_i, range_q)
+        mti_i, mti_q = run_mti_canceller(dec_i, dec_q, enable=True)
+        dop_i, dop_q = run_doppler_fft(
+            mti_i, mti_q, twiddle_file_16=TWIDDLE_16,
+        )
+        notch_i, notch_q = run_dc_notch(dop_i, dop_q, width=2)
+        flags, mag, _thr = run_cfar_ca(
+            notch_i, notch_q, guard=2, train=8, alpha_q44=0x30, mode="CA",
+        )
+
+        # --- Compare ---
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            frame.detections, flags.astype(np.uint8),
+            err_msg="SoftwareFPGA CFAR flags differ from manual chain",
+        )
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            frame.magnitude, mag.astype(np.float64),
+            err_msg="SoftwareFPGA CFAR magnitudes differ from manual chain",
+        )
+        expected_rd_i = np.clip(notch_i, -32768, 32767).astype(np.int16)
+        expected_rd_q = np.clip(notch_q, -32768, 32767).astype(np.int16)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            frame.range_doppler_i, expected_rd_i,
+            err_msg="SoftwareFPGA range_doppler_i differs from manual chain",
+        )
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(
+            frame.range_doppler_q, expected_rd_q,
+            err_msg="SoftwareFPGA range_doppler_q differs from manual chain",
+        )
+
+
 class TestQuantizeRawIQ(unittest.TestCase):
     """quantize_raw_iq utility function."""
 
diff --git a/9_Firmware/tests/cross_layer/test_cross_layer_contract.py b/9_Firmware/tests/cross_layer/test_cross_layer_contract.py
index 99128d1..a9d57ef 100644
--- a/9_Firmware/tests/cross_layer/test_cross_layer_contract.py
+++ b/9_Firmware/tests/cross_layer/test_cross_layer_contract.py
@@ -1100,3 +1100,392 @@ class TestTier4BannedPatterns:
             + "\n".join(f"  {h}" for h in all_hits[:20])
             + ("\n  ... and more" if len(all_hits) > 20 else "")
         )
+
+
+# ===================================================================
+# TIER 5: Pipeline Co-Simulation (Python golden_reference round-trip)
+# ===================================================================
+#
+# These tests load committed .npy golden reference data and run the
+# Python bit-accurate model functions on intermediate outputs to verify
+# stage-to-stage consistency.  This catches:
+#   - Golden reference function drift (model changed but .npy not regenerated)
+#   - Stage boundary mismatches (one stage's output shape/scale doesn't
+#     match the next stage's expected input)
+#   - Bit-accuracy regressions in the Python model
+#
+# The .npy files were generated by golden_reference.py:main() using
+# real ADI Phaser test data.  These tests do NOT re-run golden_reference
+# main() — they verify that each processing function, when fed the
+# committed intermediate outputs, reproduces the committed downstream
+# outputs.  This is fundamentally different from self-blessing because
+# the .npy files are committed artifacts (not regenerated each run).
+
+import numpy as np  # noqa: E402
+
+_COSIM_HEX_DIR = cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "tb" / "cosim" / "real_data" / "hex"
+_GOLDEN_REF_DIR = cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "tb" / "cosim" / "real_data"
+
+# Add golden_reference to path for imports
+if str(_GOLDEN_REF_DIR) not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, str(_GOLDEN_REF_DIR))
+
+
+def _load_npy(name: str) -> np.ndarray:
+    """Load a committed .npy file from the cosim hex directory.
+
+    Raises FileNotFoundError if the file is missing — use _skip_if_no_golden()
+    as a sentinel check at the start of each test to skip gracefully when the
+    entire golden dataset is absent.
+    """
+    path = _COSIM_HEX_DIR / name
+    return np.load(str(path))
+
+
+# Every Tier 5 artifact that is loaded by these tests. If any is missing, the
+# committed golden dataset is incomplete and all Tier 5 tests are skipped.
+_GOLDEN_SENTINELS = [
+    "decimated_range_i.npy",
+    "decimated_range_q.npy",
+    "doppler_map_i.npy",
+    "doppler_map_q.npy",
+    "fullchain_mti_i.npy",
+    "fullchain_mti_q.npy",
+    "fullchain_mti_doppler_i.npy",
+    "fullchain_mti_doppler_q.npy",
+    "fullchain_cfar_flags.npy",
+    "fullchain_cfar_mag.npy",
+    "fullchain_cfar_thr.npy",
+    "range_fft_all_i.npy",
+    "range_fft_all_q.npy",
+    "detection_mag.npy",
+]
+
+
+def _skip_if_no_golden():
+    """Skip test if committed golden .npy data is not available."""
+    for sentinel in _GOLDEN_SENTINELS:
+        if not (_COSIM_HEX_DIR / sentinel).exists():
+            pytest.skip(f"Golden data incomplete: {sentinel} not found")
+
+
+class TestTier5PipelineDecimToMTI:
+    """Verify decimated range → MTI canceller stage consistency."""
+
+    def test_mti_canceller_reproduces_committed_output(self):
+        """run_mti_canceller(decimated) must match fullchain_mti .npy files."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_mti_canceller
+
+        dec_i = _load_npy("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        dec_q = _load_npy("decimated_range_q.npy")
+        expected_i = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_i.npy")
+        expected_q = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_q.npy")
+
+        got_i, got_q = run_mti_canceller(dec_i, dec_q, enable=True)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_i, expected_i,
+            err_msg="MTI I output drifted from committed golden data")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_q, expected_q,
+            err_msg="MTI Q output drifted from committed golden data")
+
+    def test_mti_passthrough_equals_input(self):
+        """MTI with enable=False must pass through unchanged."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_mti_canceller
+
+        dec_i = _load_npy("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        dec_q = _load_npy("decimated_range_q.npy")
+
+        got_i, got_q = run_mti_canceller(dec_i, dec_q, enable=False)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_i, dec_i)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_q, dec_q)
+
+    def test_mti_first_chirp_is_zeroed(self):
+        """MTI 2-pulse canceller must zero the first chirp (no previous data)."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_mti_canceller
+
+        dec_i = _load_npy("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        dec_q = _load_npy("decimated_range_q.npy")
+
+        got_i, got_q = run_mti_canceller(dec_i, dec_q, enable=True)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_i[0], 0,
+            err_msg="MTI chirp 0 should be all zeros")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_q[0], 0,
+            err_msg="MTI chirp 0 should be all zeros")
+
+
+class TestTier5PipelineDoppler:
+    """Verify Doppler FFT stage consistency against committed golden data."""
+
+    def test_doppler_no_mti_reproduces_committed_output(self):
+        """run_doppler_fft(range_fft_all) must match doppler_map .npy (direct path).
+
+        NOTE: doppler_map was generated from full range FFT output (32, 1024),
+        NOT from decimated data.  The function only processes the first 64
+        columns, but it needs the twiddle file that golden_reference.py used.
+        """
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_doppler_fft
+
+        range_i = _load_npy("range_fft_all_i.npy")
+        range_q = _load_npy("range_fft_all_q.npy")
+        expected_i = _load_npy("doppler_map_i.npy")
+        expected_q = _load_npy("doppler_map_q.npy")
+
+        twiddle_16 = str(cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "fft_twiddle_16.mem")
+        if not Path(twiddle_16).exists():
+            pytest.skip("fft_twiddle_16.mem not found")
+
+        got_i, got_q = run_doppler_fft(range_i, range_q, twiddle_file_16=twiddle_16)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_i, expected_i,
+            err_msg="Doppler I (direct path) drifted from committed golden data")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_q, expected_q,
+            err_msg="Doppler Q (direct path) drifted from committed golden data")
+
+    def test_doppler_mti_reproduces_committed_output(self):
+        """run_doppler_fft(mti_output) must match fullchain_mti_doppler .npy."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_doppler_fft
+
+        mti_i = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_i.npy")
+        mti_q = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_q.npy")
+        expected_i = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_i.npy")
+        expected_q = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_q.npy")
+
+        twiddle_16 = str(cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "fft_twiddle_16.mem")
+        if not Path(twiddle_16).exists():
+            pytest.skip("fft_twiddle_16.mem not found")
+
+        got_i, got_q = run_doppler_fft(mti_i, mti_q, twiddle_file_16=twiddle_16)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_i, expected_i,
+            err_msg="Doppler I (MTI path) drifted from committed golden data")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_q, expected_q,
+            err_msg="Doppler Q (MTI path) drifted from committed golden data")
+
+    def test_doppler_output_shape(self):
+        """Doppler output must be (64, 32) — 64 range bins x 32 Doppler bins."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_doppler_fft
+
+        dec_i = _load_npy("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        dec_q = _load_npy("decimated_range_q.npy")
+
+        twiddle_16 = str(
+            cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "fft_twiddle_16.mem"
+        )
+        tw = twiddle_16 if Path(twiddle_16).exists() else None
+
+        got_i, got_q = run_doppler_fft(dec_i, dec_q, twiddle_file_16=tw)
+
+        assert got_i.shape == (64, 32), f"Expected (64,32), got {got_i.shape}"
+        assert got_q.shape == (64, 32), f"Expected (64,32), got {got_q.shape}"
+
+    def test_doppler_chained_from_decimated_via_mti(self):
+        """Full chain: decimated → MTI → Doppler must match committed output."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_mti_canceller, run_doppler_fft
+
+        dec_i = _load_npy("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        dec_q = _load_npy("decimated_range_q.npy")
+        expected_i = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_i.npy")
+        expected_q = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_q.npy")
+
+        twiddle_16 = str(cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "fft_twiddle_16.mem")
+        if not Path(twiddle_16).exists():
+            pytest.skip("fft_twiddle_16.mem not found")
+
+        mti_i, mti_q = run_mti_canceller(dec_i, dec_q, enable=True)
+        got_i, got_q = run_doppler_fft(mti_i, mti_q, twiddle_file_16=twiddle_16)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_i, expected_i,
+            err_msg="Chained decim→MTI→Doppler I mismatches committed golden")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_q, expected_q,
+            err_msg="Chained decim→MTI→Doppler Q mismatches committed golden")
+
+
+class TestTier5PipelineCFAR:
+    """Verify CFAR stage against committed golden data."""
+
+    # Parameters matching golden_reference.py:main() at lines 1266-1269
+    CFAR_GUARD = 2
+    CFAR_TRAIN = 8
+    CFAR_ALPHA = 0x30
+    CFAR_MODE = "CA"
+    DC_NOTCH_WIDTH = 2
+
+    def test_cfar_reproduces_committed_output(self):
+        """Full chain: MTI Doppler → DC notch → CFAR must match committed .npy."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_dc_notch, run_cfar_ca
+
+        doppler_i = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_i.npy")
+        doppler_q = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_q.npy")
+        expected_flags = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_flags.npy")
+        expected_mag = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_mag.npy")
+        expected_thr = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_thr.npy")
+
+        # Apply DC notch first (matching golden_reference.py:main() flow)
+        notch_i, notch_q = run_dc_notch(doppler_i, doppler_q,
+                                         width=self.DC_NOTCH_WIDTH)
+
+        got_flags, got_mag, got_thr = run_cfar_ca(
+            notch_i, notch_q,
+            guard=self.CFAR_GUARD,
+            train=self.CFAR_TRAIN,
+            alpha_q44=self.CFAR_ALPHA,
+            mode=self.CFAR_MODE,
+        )
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_flags, expected_flags,
+            err_msg="CFAR flags drifted from committed golden data")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_mag, expected_mag,
+            err_msg="CFAR magnitudes drifted from committed golden data")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_thr, expected_thr,
+            err_msg="CFAR thresholds drifted from committed golden data")
+
+    def test_cfar_output_shapes(self):
+        """CFAR outputs must be (64, 32)."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_dc_notch, run_cfar_ca
+
+        doppler_i = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_i.npy")
+        doppler_q = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_q.npy")
+
+        notch_i, notch_q = run_dc_notch(
+            doppler_i, doppler_q, width=self.DC_NOTCH_WIDTH,
+        )
+        flags, mag, thr = run_cfar_ca(
+            notch_i, notch_q,
+            guard=self.CFAR_GUARD,
+            train=self.CFAR_TRAIN,
+            alpha_q44=self.CFAR_ALPHA,
+            mode=self.CFAR_MODE,
+        )
+
+        assert flags.shape == (64, 32)
+        assert mag.shape == (64, 32)
+        assert thr.shape == (64, 32)
+
+    def test_cfar_flags_are_boolean(self):
+        """CFAR flags should be boolean (0 or 1 only)."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        flags = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_flags.npy")
+        unique = set(np.unique(flags))
+        assert unique <= {0, 1}, \
+            f"CFAR flags contain non-boolean values: {unique}"
+
+    def test_cfar_threshold_ge_zero(self):
+        """CFAR thresholds must be non-negative (unsigned in RTL)."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        thr = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_thr.npy")
+        assert np.all(thr >= 0), "CFAR thresholds contain negative values"
+
+    def test_cfar_detection_implies_mag_gt_threshold(self):
+        """Where CFAR flags are True, magnitude must exceed threshold."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        flags = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_flags.npy")
+        mag = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_mag.npy")
+        thr = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_thr.npy")
+
+        detected = flags.astype(bool)
+        if not np.any(detected):
+            pytest.skip("No CFAR detections in golden data")
+
+        # Where detected, magnitude must be > threshold (strict inequality)
+        violations = detected & (mag <= thr)
+        n_violations = int(np.sum(violations))
+        assert n_violations == 0, (
+            f"{n_violations} cells detected but mag <= threshold"
+        )
+
+    def test_dc_notch_zeros_correct_bins(self):
+        """DC notch with width=2 must zero bins {0,1,15,16,17,31}.
+
+        Logic: bin_within_sf < width  OR  bin_within_sf > (15 - width + 1)
+        width=2: < 2 → {0,1} per subframe;  > 14 → {15} per subframe
+        Global: {0, 1, 15, 16, 17, 31}
+        """
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_dc_notch
+
+        doppler_i = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_i.npy")
+        doppler_q = _load_npy("fullchain_mti_doppler_q.npy")
+
+        notch_i, notch_q = run_dc_notch(doppler_i, doppler_q, width=2)
+
+        # Per subframe: bins < 2 → {0,1} and bins > 14 → {15}
+        expected_zero_bins = {0, 1, 15, 16, 17, 31}
+        for dbin in range(32):
+            if dbin in expected_zero_bins:
+                assert np.all(notch_i[:, dbin] == 0), \
+                    f"DC notch failed: bin {dbin} should be zero"
+                assert np.all(notch_q[:, dbin] == 0), \
+                    f"DC notch failed: bin {dbin} should be zero"
+            else:
+                assert np.array_equal(notch_i[:, dbin], doppler_i[:, dbin]), \
+                    f"DC notch modified non-notched I bin {dbin}"
+                assert np.array_equal(notch_q[:, dbin], doppler_q[:, dbin]), \
+                    f"DC notch modified non-notched Q bin {dbin}"
+
+
+class TestTier5FullPipelineChain:
+    """End-to-end: decimated → MTI → Doppler → DC notch → CFAR."""
+
+    def test_full_chain_matches_committed_cfar(self):
+        """Chaining all stages from decimated input must match committed CFAR output."""
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import (
+            run_mti_canceller, run_doppler_fft, run_dc_notch, run_cfar_ca,
+        )
+
+        dec_i = _load_npy("decimated_range_i.npy")
+        dec_q = _load_npy("decimated_range_q.npy")
+        expected_flags = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_flags.npy")
+        expected_mag = _load_npy("fullchain_cfar_mag.npy")
+
+        twiddle_16 = str(cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "fft_twiddle_16.mem")
+        if not Path(twiddle_16).exists():
+            pytest.skip("fft_twiddle_16.mem not found")
+
+        # Run full chain
+        mti_i, mti_q = run_mti_canceller(dec_i, dec_q, enable=True)
+        dop_i, dop_q = run_doppler_fft(mti_i, mti_q, twiddle_file_16=twiddle_16)
+        notch_i, notch_q = run_dc_notch(dop_i, dop_q, width=2)
+        flags, mag, _thr = run_cfar_ca(
+            notch_i, notch_q, guard=2, train=8, alpha_q44=0x30, mode="CA",
+        )
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(flags, expected_flags,
+            err_msg="Full chain flags mismatch — pipeline drift detected")
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(mag, expected_mag,
+            err_msg="Full chain magnitudes mismatch — pipeline drift detected")
+
+    def test_detection_mag_matches_committed(self):
+        """Simple threshold detection magnitude must match committed detection_mag.npy.
+
+        detection_mag.npy was generated from the DIRECT path (no decimator, no MTI):
+          range_fft_all → doppler_fft → run_detection
+        """
+        _skip_if_no_golden()
+        from golden_reference import run_doppler_fft, run_detection
+
+        range_i = _load_npy("range_fft_all_i.npy")
+        range_q = _load_npy("range_fft_all_q.npy")
+        expected_mag = _load_npy("detection_mag.npy")
+
+        twiddle_16 = str(cp.REPO_ROOT / "9_Firmware" / "9_2_FPGA" / "fft_twiddle_16.mem")
+        if not Path(twiddle_16).exists():
+            pytest.skip("fft_twiddle_16.mem not found")
+
+        # Direct path (matching golden_reference.py:main() flow for detection_mag)
+        dop_i, dop_q = run_doppler_fft(range_i, range_q, twiddle_file_16=twiddle_16)
+        got_mag, _det = run_detection(dop_i, dop_q, threshold=10000)
+
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(got_mag, expected_mag,
+            err_msg="Detection magnitude drifted from committed golden data")