diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2900b6074..da016a386 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -26,3 +26,4 @@ __pycache__/
 
 # bug: This file is created in repo root on test discovery.
 /consumer_test.log
+/.clwb
diff --git a/docs/internals/requirements/requirements.rst b/docs/internals/requirements/requirements.rst
index dd5d8baa5..f18c09e47 100644
--- a/docs/internals/requirements/requirements.rst
+++ b/docs/internals/requirements/requirements.rst
@@ -545,6 +545,35 @@ Versioning
   .. note::
       Certain tool requirements do not have a matching process requirement.
 
+.. tool_req:: Enables needs linking via covers attribute (Requirements to AoU)
+  :id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+  :tags: Requirements
+  :implemented: YES
+  :version: 1
+  :satisfies: gd_req__req_linkage_aou
+  :parent_covered: YES
+  :status: valid
+
+  Docs-as-Code shall support the ``covers`` link type to establish traceability between
+  requirements and their Assumptions of Use (AoU), per SCORE process specification.
+
+  **Allowed connections**:
+
+  .. table::
+     :widths: auto
+
+     ================================ ========================================================
+     Source Type                      Link Type  Target Type
+     ================================ ========================================================
+     Feature Requirements             covers     Assumptions of Use (AoU)
+     Component Requirements           covers     Assumptions of Use (AoU)
+     ================================ ========================================================
+
+  **Traceability scope**: Applies in both repository types: feature requirements cover
+  AoU in platform repositories, and component requirements cover AoU in module repositories.
+
+  **Process reference**: :need:`gd_req__req_linkage_aou`
+
 .. tool_req:: Safety: enforce safe linking
    :id: tool_req__docs_common_attr_safety_link_check
    :tags: Common Attributes
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml
index 0b49ce454..8871cdca2 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/metamodel.yaml
@@ -306,6 +306,8 @@ needs_types:
       valid_until: ^v(0|[1-9]\d*)\.(0|[1-9]\d*)(\.(0|[1-9]\d*))?$
     optional_links:
       belongs_to: feat # for evaluation
+      # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+      covers: aou_req
     tags:
       - requirement
       - requirement_excl_process
@@ -336,6 +338,9 @@ needs_types:
       # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_attr_testcov
       testcovered: ^(YES|NO)$
       hash: ^.*$
+    optional_links:
+      # req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+      covers: aou_req
     tags:
       - requirement
       - requirement_excl_process
@@ -943,6 +948,11 @@ needs_extra_links:
     incoming: fulfilled by
     outgoing: fulfils
 
+  # req-Id: gd_req__req_linkage_aou
+  covers:
+    incoming: covered by
+    outgoing: covers
+
   implements:
     incoming: implemented by
     outgoing: implements
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_covers_link.rst b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_covers_link.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4e0dfbc1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/tests/rst/options/test_options_covers_link.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+..
+   # *******************************************************************************
+   # Copyright (c) 2026 Contributors to the Eclipse Foundation
+   #
+   # See the NOTICE file(s) distributed with this work for additional
+   # information regarding copyright ownership.
+   #
+   # This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
+   # terms of the Apache License Version 2.0 which is available at
+   # https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+   #
+   # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+   # *******************************************************************************
+
+#CHECK: check_options
+
+.. Tests that `covers` on feat_req and comp_req only allows aou_req as target.
+.. req-Id: tool_req__docs_req_link_covers_aou
+
+.. aou_req:: AoU target for covers tests
+   :id: aou_req__covers__target
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+
+   AoU content used for covers-link validation tests.
+
+
+.. stkh_req:: Parent stakeholder requirement for covers tests
+   :id: stkh_req__covers__parent
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :rationale: Stakeholder parent rationale for covers-link tests.
+
+
+.. feat_req:: Parent feature requirement for covers tests
+   :id: feat_req__covers__parent
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :satisfies: stkh_req__covers__parent
+
+   Parent feature requirement used by covers-link tests.
+
+
+.. Positive Test: feat_req pointing to an aou_req via covers is valid.
+#EXPECT-NOT: covers
+
+.. feat_req:: Feature requirement with valid covers link
+   :id: feat_req__covers__good_1
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :satisfies: stkh_req__covers__parent
+   :covers: aou_req__covers__target
+
+   Valid feat_req that covers an AoU requirement.
+
+
+.. Positive Test: comp_req pointing to an aou_req via covers is valid.
+#EXPECT-NOT: covers
+
+.. comp_req:: Component requirement with valid covers link
+   :id: comp_req__covers__good_1
+   :reqtype: Functional
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid
+   :satisfies: feat_req__covers__parent
+   :belongs_to: comp__covers__parent
+   :covers: aou_req__covers__target
+
+   Valid comp_req that covers an AoU requirement.
+
+
+.. feat:: Feature for covers tests
+   :id: feat__covers__parent
+   :security: NO
+   :safety: QM
+   :status: valid