diff --git a/tests/FieldLogger.Tests/FieldLogger.Tests.csproj b/tests/FieldLogger.Tests/FieldLogger.Tests.csproj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6276f95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/FieldLogger.Tests/FieldLogger.Tests.csproj
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+
+  <!--
+    QA smoke/regression harness for the Field Logger app (S1-f, trace: SRS §6 gate / NFR-8).
+
+    Targets plain net9.0 (NOT the MAUI platform TFMs) so `dotnet test` runs on any dev/CI
+    machine without the MAUI workload, keeping the QA gate fast. It deliberately does NOT
+    reference FieldLogger.csproj yet, because that project pulls in MAUI/platform deps.
+
+    When app logic that needs testing (e.g. the S1-b IF-LOC codec / locator simulator) is
+    factored into a plain .NET class library, add a ProjectReference to it here and the
+    round-trip tests move in. Coordinated with app-owner.
+  -->
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net9.0</TargetFramework>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+    <IsPackable>false</IsPackable>
+    <IsTestProject>true</IsTestProject>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="17.11.1" />
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit" Version="2.9.2" />
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit.runner.visualstudio" Version="2.8.2" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+</Project>
diff --git a/tests/FieldLogger.Tests/SmokeTests.cs b/tests/FieldLogger.Tests/SmokeTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ac63fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/FieldLogger.Tests/SmokeTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace FieldLogger.Tests;
+
+// Smoke test for the QA gate (S1-f, trace: SRS §6 gate / NFR-8).
+// Proves the .NET test toolchain (dotnet test + xUnit) is wired and green in the app repo.
+// Substantive coverage (e.g. the S1-b IF-LOC codec round-trip) is added once the app's
+// pure logic is factored into a workload-free library this project can reference.
+public class SmokeTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void Harness_Runs()
+    {
+        Assert.True(true);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(1, 1, 2)]
+    [InlineData(2, 3, 5)]
+    public void Arithmetic_Sanity(int a, int b, int expected)
+    {
+        Assert.Equal(expected, a + b);
+    }
+}