Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi armed group, announced on 17/10 that a Saudi Arabian army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter was shot down over Najran province, near the border with Yemen, during "hostile operations".

Saudi Arabian AH-64E helicopter displayed at an exhibition in Riyadh in 2. *Army Recognition*.

On 18/10, General Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Riyadh-led anti-Houthi coalition, announced that a Saudi Arabian National Guard AH-6i Little Bird armed reconnaissance helicopter crashed in Najran province due to a "technical malfunction", killing two pilots. These were the first Saudi Arabian servicemen confirmed killed since the conflict with Houthi reignited in 7.

The Houthi armed group later released a video showing an infrared sensor tracking a target, followed by an anti-aircraft missile striking and exploding, causing the aircraft to break into pieces and crash.

Houthi missile shoots down suspected Saudi Arabian helicopter target in video released on 18/10. Video: *X/MenchOsint*.

"The footage shows the targeting and downing of a Saudi Arabian AH-6i armed helicopter with a domestically produced anti-aircraft missile. The aircraft was conducting hostile operations over the Najran region, across the border with Yemen", the Houthi armed group stated.

It remains unclear if the AH-6i shown in this video is the aircraft referred to in their earlier claim of downing an "AH-64 Apache helicopter".

Responding to spokesperson Saree's statement, General al-Maliki posted photos of multiple Apache helicopters lined up on a tarmac. "They claim to have shot it down, but these aircraft will soon enter combat", he wrote.

Saudi Arabia has acquired a total of 59 US-made AH-64A/D/E helicopters. An AH-64D typically costs USD 31-35 million, while an AH-64E has an ex-factory cost of USD 35 million. With components, technical support, weaponry, and operational training, the price for each AH-64D/E can reach USD 50-65 million.

Saudi Arabian Apache helicopter fleet in a photo posted by General al-Maliki on 18/10. Photo: *X/CJFCSpox*.

Open-source data indicates that at least 4-6 Saudi Arabian Apache helicopters have crashed from either Houthi fire or technical issues since the kingdom's military intervention in Yemen began.

The AH-6i, a US-made light armed reconnaissance helicopter, costs over USD 9 million per unit. The Saudi Arabian National Guard currently operates 12 AH-6i aircraft and has an additional 24 on order.

Ngoc Anh (According to AFP, AA)