Development of the missile began in the year 1986, at the same time the similar PL-8 was developed; it was based on its predecessors PL-5 and PL-7. The reason for the fact that China was developing two similar AAMs at the same time was probably, that China was not allowed to sell it´s license build Python-3 copy, the PL-8, on export market, so that the IR-seeker of the PL-8 was fitted on a home-made missile. The PL-9 is offered on export market since 1989; however no one was interested in buying the missile, while only a few of them are used by the People´s Liberation Army Air Force of China.