Abstract: A combustion assembly includes a combustor having inner and outer liners, and pilot stage and main stage combustion means disposed between the liners. A turbine nozzle is joined to downstream ends of the combustor inner and outer liners and the main stage combustion means is close-coupled to the turbine nozzle for obtaining short combustion residence time of main stage combustion gases for reducing NO.sub.x emissions. In a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the invention, the combustion assembly includes first and second pluralities of circumferentially spaced fuel injectors and air swirlers disposed radially outwardly of a plurality of circumferentially spaced hollow flameholders having fuel discharge holes. Pilot stage combustion is effected downstream of the first and second fuel injectors and swirlers, and main stage combustion is effected downstream of the flameholders.