An ice detection system (102, 400, 500, 700, 900) for use with an aircraft, the system comprising: at least a thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) to sense a temperature of freestream air relative to a temperature threshold; at least a hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004) to sense an amount of moisture in the freestream air relative to a moisture threshold; a first optical sensor (148, 608) associated with the thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) and configured to sense or monitor a change in color of the thermochromic device and a second optical sensor (150, 610) associated with the hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004) and configured to sense a change in color of the hydrochromic device; a controller (152, 506), communicatively coupled both to the first optical sensor and to the second optical sensor, to detect an icing condition in response to the thermochromic device sensing a temperature that is less than or equal to the temperature threshold and the hydrochromic device (144, 1104) sensing an amount moisture that exceeds the moisture threshold; at least a first heater associated with the thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) and at least a second heater associated with the hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004); said controller (152, 506) being configured to activate the first or the second heater when both the thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) senses a temperature that is less than or equal to the temperature threshold and the hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004) senses an amount moisture that exceeds the moisture threshold. at least a thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) to sense a temperature of freestream air relative to a temperature threshold; at least a hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004) to sense an amount of moisture in the freestream air relative to a moisture threshold; a first optical sensor (148, 608) associated with the thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) and configured to sense or monitor a change in color of the thermochromic device and a second optical sensor (150, 610) associated with the hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004) and configured to sense a change in color of the hydrochromic device; a controller (152, 506), communicatively coupled both to the first optical sensor and to the second optical sensor, to detect an icing condition in response to the thermochromic device sensing a temperature that is less than or equal to the temperature threshold and the hydrochromic device (144, 1104) sensing an amount moisture that exceeds the moisture threshold; at least a first heater associated with the thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) and at least a second heater associated with the hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004); said controller (152, 506) being configured to activate the first or the second heater when both the thermochromic device (142, 202, 302, 602, 802, 1002) senses a temperature that is less than or equal to the temperature threshold and the hydrochromic device (144, 204, 304, 604, 804, 1004) senses an amount moisture that exceeds the moisture threshold.