A fixed-wing aerial vehicle includes: a fuselage with an on-board power supply; at least one fixed-wing or aerodynamic surface having at least one heater configured to be energized by the power supply, and having a superhydrophobic coating applied to at least a portion of the at least one fixed-wing or the aerodynamic surface that may be subject to icing; at least one capacitive sensor configured to detect ice formation on the at least one fixed-wing or aerodynamic surface; and a controller configured to selectively activate the at least one heater in response to detected ice formation.