ABSTRACTThis paper will discuss the current NAVSEA Program to design, develop, test, and evaluate a Waste Heat Recovered marine gas turbine cruise propulsion plant for non‐nuclear surface combatants. Elements of the paper to be addressed include: alternative systems considered for cruise propulsion development, the combined cycle design objectives of simplicity, low maintenance, high reliability, a 20 percent overall performance goal and minimal ship impact on weight and volume. The need to involve industry support in all phases of system development and into production will be discussed relative to the overall need to reduce initial capital and logistic support costs.