A blowout preventer system includes a lower blowout preventer (BOP) stack including a number of hydraulic components, and a lower marine riser package (LMRP) including a first control pod and a second control pod adapted to provide, during use, redundant control of hydraulic components of the lower blowout preventer stack where the first and the second control pods are adapted to being connected, during use, to a surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the surface control system, wherein the blowout preventer system further includes at least one additional control pod connected to at least one additional surface control system and to be controlled, during use, by the additional surface control system. In this way, an improved blowout preventer system is provided.