The history of ring laser gyroscope(RLG) research, development and application in China and abroad was reviewed with time as the main thread. RLG research began in the 1960s, with the United States leading the breakthrough in core key technologies. Based on an industrial model of dual-track commercialization and military-civil integration, it drove revolutionary progress in the field of inertial technology, achieving widespread application in both civil aviation and military sectors. China initiated its efforts in the early 1970s, gradually overcoming challenges in materials, key technologies, and core processes, transitioning from trial and imitation to independent innovation. Through the military-civil integration strategy, it established a complete laser gyroscope industrial chain, achieving self-reliance and control.