<P> During the Vietnam War, thousands of U.S. aircraft were lost to antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface - to - air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors (MiG) s . The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA . The Royal Australian Air Force also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam, as did the Republic of Vietnam . Among fixed - wing aircraft, more F - 4 Phantoms were lost than any other type in service with any nation . In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and 578 UAVs (554 over Vietnam and 24 over China). </P> <P> South Vietnam's army lost 2,500 aircraft and helicopters, excluding number of UAVs (including 1,018 aircraft and helicopters lost from January 1964 to September 1973)) </P>

How many aircraft did the us lost in vietnam