Any Flanker can already carry ECM pods on their wingtips, and in any given formation, some Flankers would be designated to carry the pods. If the PLAAF wants to go further with an ECW aircraft, they are already working on a Y-8 based platform that offers a lot more space and loiter time. The H-6 or JH-7A can also provide a platform for an ECW aircraft.
Payload weight is not that important in the age of PGMs.
To further develop the J-11B's attack capabilities, China has to do this on its own, since the J-11B will have to host a growing array of home built weapons like the YJ-83, the KD-88, the LS-6, the LT-2 and FT-1 bombs. Its not in Sukhoi's interest to do this.
Su-34 is still a far shot unless there is some kind of air to surface weapon China does not have but the Russians do. That list keeps growing shorter every year; the most notable exception remains that China still does not manufacture a bunker buster (YET) like the KAB-1500kr. I mention the Su-34 because I think it is a better platform for a power projection bomber following the Su-30MKK's footsteps. There is suggestive evidence that China is interested on the type following a leaked picture of an Su-34 like model being tested in a wind tunnel.
For recce, there are always the J-8IIs. They are ideal for flying fast and high. There is a SAR recce pod for the MKKs called the MR400, don't know if China purchased this or not, this kind of stuff don't seem to be required to be declared to the public or the UN as per arms treaty. Taiwan press did report an Su-30 attempting to recon the west Taiwan coastline with a pod, so they might have this.
What I like to see if China acquires the Su-35BM/BN or the Su-34 is for the planes to be used like a mini AWACS where they can be used to vector other planes towards aerial, shipping and ground targets. The Su-30MKK is already on its way to that, but its datalink is limited to supporting 16 other aircraft, usually its type or other Flankers, and the radar isn't good enough for long range (at least stand off ranges) high resolution ground and sea search and target finding. China's interest previously on the Zhuk series was because of the Zhuk's SAR capabilities not because of its A2A capabilities. It does not look to me that the Russians did solve this in time and the Chinese went ahead to create similar capabilities on their own radars. I would most certainly like to see what the SAR and the ground-sea-surface target finding abilities of the radars on the J-10, JH-7A, J-11B, and J-8H/F.
Previously when the PLA was adopting the JO (Joint Operations) doctrine, it is expected that dedicated recce and satellites will provide the ISR (Intel, Search, Recon) but this creates a rather "lumpy" command structure that isn't very flexible and is too highly top end heavy. Going to the IJO (Integrated Joint Operations) doctrine, the whole mission feedback loop of find target, attack target and access damage, is taken levels down so smaller units and lower levels of the PLA can perform more autonomously and generate mission cycles faster. With that in mind, it's better to bring down the ISR, and recce and command aircraft that functions like mini-AWACS would be the best way to do it.
Well big upgrade is just a sensationalist word, :nutkick: for me it is would be a logical step in the right way. The Su-35 is not that advanced probably it will be in the Su-30 MKI standard but to a lesser extent. Russia have stated they would market an upgraded version of the Su-35 for China:china: . That's the plane that China should have.